13 February 2014
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring an imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Malaysia and will maintain liaison with the relevant health authorities.
According to the information of Malaysia health authority, the patient is a 67-year-old female tourist from Guangdong. She presented with fever, cough, fatigue and joint pain on January 30 and sought medical consultation at a clinic in Guangdong. She arrived in Malaysia on February 3 with her 16 family members for tour visit in Sabah. Her condition worsened on February 7 and she was admitted to a local hospital. On the same day, she was referred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Sabah. Her specimen tested positive for avian Influenza A(H7N9) on February 11.
Fourteen of the patient's travel collaterals were arranged to leave Malaysia by the Malaysia health authority on February 8 and arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport in the evening. Upon the notification from the airline, Port Health Officers of the DH boarded the airplane to assess their health conditions. All 14 members denied any discomfort and contact history with birds or poultry in the past 10 days. The examination reviewed no other influenza-like symptoms except three of them were found to have mild fever. As they expressed that they had arranged two private cars for returning to Shenzhen via Shenzhen Bay Control Point on that night, the DH subsequently alerted the relevant authorities of Shenzhen for follow-up actions.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to maintain close liaison with the Guangdong health authority on the conditions of these members of the tour group," a spokesman for the DH said.
"Locally, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are ongoing. We will remain vigilant and maintain liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant health authorities. Local surveillance activities will be modified upon the WHO's recommendations," the spokesman remarked.
"In view of human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) confirmed in Hong Kong and multiple cases notified by the Mainland, the activity of the virus is expected to be higher in the winter season. Those planning to travel outside Hong Kong should maintain good personal, environmental and food hygiene at all times," the spokesman urged.
The public may visit the CHP's avian influenza page ( www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24244.html ) and website ( www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/global_statistics_avian_influenza_e.pdf ) for more information on avian influenza-affected areas and provinces.