Press Release

Update on imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9)

24 February 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 24) reported the latest updates on the third imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong this winter, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

Epidemiological investigations by the CHP have so far located 17 close contacts and 99 other contacts of the patient.

(A) Close contacts

The close contacts will be put under quarantine and prescribed with antiviral presumptive treatment until the completion of the five-day treatment, or 10 days since last exposure to the patient, whichever is earlier. They include:

• An asymptomatic family member of the patient who tested negative for influenza A virus;
• Five asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in Queen Mary Hospital (QMH);
• Seven in-patients admitted to the same cubicle as the confirmed patient in QMH among which six were asymptomatic while the remaining one is under tracing; and
• Three patients and one who accompanied one of them attending the same private clinic in Aberdeen with the confirmed patient. They are all asymptomatic.

The Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has been converted to a quarantine centre for asymptomatic close contacts, including the HCWs involved in QMH.

(B) Other contacts

Other contacts have been put under medical surveillance and they include:

• Another asymptomatic family member who visited the confirmed patient in QMH;
• 77 HCWs involved in QMH;
• 15 asymptomatic clinic contacts including a private doctor, staff and patients of the private clinic; and
• Six colleagues of the patient among whom one had mild upper respiratory tract infection symptoms before exposure to the patient while the rest are asymptomatic.

Investigations and contact tracing are ongoing.