Press Release

Suspected case of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus confirmed to be influenza infection

8 October 2012

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (October 8) that the suspected case of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus affecting a four-year-old boy who came from Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was confirmed to be an influenza infection.

A CHP spokesman said that the Centre have carried out an urgent investigation into the suspected case upon receipt notification from Ruttonjee Hospital yesterday. The boy was subsequently admitted to Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) for isolation yesterday. Investigation revealed that the boy has upper respiratory tract symptoms and there is no clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia. His current condition is stable.

Respiratory specimens taken from the boy tested positive for influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus but negative for Novel Coronavirus associated with Severe Respiratory Disease by QMH. The patient is not a case of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus infection.

The spokesman advised travellers returning from novel coronavirus affected countries with respiratory symptoms should wear a facial mask and seek medical attention and reveal the travel history to the doctor.