China | CHP investigates confirmed case of severe paediatric influenza B infection
Kwai Tsing | 16 Feb 2012
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is drawing public attention to its investigation into a confirmed case of severe paediatric influenza B infection affecting a 5-year-old girl.
The girl, with chronic illness, lives in Kwai Tsing. She presented with fever and convulsion on February 14. She was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Princess Margaret Hospital on the same day.
The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia. Her current condition is stable.
Nasopharyngeal aspirate taken from the patient tested positive for influenza B.
She has no recent travel history. Her home contacts do not have symptoms of influenza-like illness.
A spokesman reminded members of the public to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures against influenza.
China | CHP investigates confirmed case of severe paediatric influenza B infection
Hong Kong | 15 Feb 2012
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is drawing public attention to its investigation into a confirmed case of severe paediatric influenza B infection affecting a 4-year-old girl.
The girl presented with fever, cough, runny nose, vomiting, dull looking with confused speech and weakness on February 2. She was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on February 5.
The clinical diagnosis was encephalitis. She is now in stable condition.
Her nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for influenza B.
The girl has no recent travel history. Her home contacts are asymptomatic.
A spokesman reminded members of the public to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures against influenza.
China | Another case of congenital rubella infection under investigation in Hong Kong
Hong Kong | 14 Feb 2012
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is investigating another case of congenital rubella infection and again urged women of child-bearing age to consult doctors to check for immunity against rubella and the need for rubella vaccination before getting pregnant.
The case involves a female infant delivered at 39 weeks of gestation in Prince of Wales Hospital on December 27, 2011. She presented with vomiting, diarrhoea, irritability and decreased appetite on February 7. She was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital on February 8. Her clinical diagnosis was meningoencephalitis.
Her serum tested positive for rubella IgM and her urine sample tested positive for the rubella virus. Her current condition is stable.
Her mother was born in the Mainland and came to Hong Kong two years ago. She had an antenatal check-up in Fanling Maternal and Child Health Centre in July 2011 at 16 weeks of gestation and antenatal blood taken at that time tested positive for rubella antibodies, meaning that she had immunity against rubella or had previous rubella infection. She was unsure about her rubella vaccination history and she did not have symptoms of rubella during the antenatal period.
The CHP’s investigation is ongoing.
The spokesman explained that rubella infection, also known as German measles, is a highly infectious disease caused by the rubella virus. In susceptible pregnant women, rubella infection may cause anomalies in the developing foetus, known as congenital rubella syndrome. Congenital rubella syndrome is characterised by deafness, eye lesions, heart malformations and mental retardation. It mainly occurs in infants born to women who got infected during the first three months of pregnancy.
“Immunisation for rubella is the most effective way to prevent the disease. Non-immune individuals are advised to consult their doctors for the rubella vaccine, usually given together with measles and mumps vaccines. Women of child-bearing age planning to get pregnant should consult doctors to check their rubella immune status and the need for rubella vaccination,” the spokesman said.
“Women who test negative for rubella antibodies may approach their family doctors for advice and vaccination.
“Women attending antenatal care who are unaware of their immune status should be tested for rubella antibodies and, if negative, be vaccinated immediately post partum,” he said.
In Hong Kong, routine rubella vaccination was provided to all girls at Primary Six starting in 1978, and has been given together with measles and mumps vaccines (MMR) to all children at 1 year old since 1990. A routine second dose of MMR at Primary One was introduced in 1996. The coverage of MMR vaccination in Hong Kong is over 95 per cent at Primary One.
China | Cluster of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus cases in Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong
Hong Kong | 14 Feb 2012
The spokesperson for Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) made the following announcement today (February 14):
A one-month-old baby girl admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of PWH was confirmed on January 28 to be infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She was prescribed with antibiotics and put under isolation. The baby is now in stable condition.
In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, PWH has screened patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Special Care Baby Unit. It has been confirmed so far that six patients (five males and one female, aged from eight days to one year) were MRSA carriers, all without clinical symptoms. All have been treated under isolation with stable condition, and one of them has been discharged.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). The infection control team of PWH had a meeting today with experts from the Hospital Authority and the CHP. The following enhanced infection control measures have been adopted:
1. Isolating infected patients and carriers in a designated cubicle of the same ward. Patients are being cared for by designated nursing staff to prevent cross-transmission;
2. Ensuring all staff and visitors entering the designated cubicle wear personal protective equipment;
3. Continuing to screen new patients who are admitted to the wards concerned;
4. Enhancing environmental hygiene in the wards;
5. Implementing a hand hygiene audit for staff and reminding staff to pay special attention to procedures with higher risk of cross-transmission; and
6. Continuing to monitor the health condition of patients in the wards.
China | temporary closure of Aviary Pagoda in Yuen Long Park due to H5N1
Hong Kong | 14 Feb 2012
Following the confirmation of a third dead bird found in Yuen Long District infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus within a period of 10 days in the same area, the Aviary Pagoda in Yuen Long Park, which is within a radius of 3 kilometres from the location where the infected birds were found, has been closed until further notice, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (February 14).
The temporary closure was arranged according to the advice of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the established guidelines, the spokesman said.
“Proper notices have been put up at prominent positions of the park to inform visitors of the temporary closure of the Aviary Pagoda,” he said.
Since the discovery of dead birds infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the LCSD’s Senior Veterinary Officer and staff have been keeping a close watch over the health condition of some 1,300 birds kept in the aviaries in four parks, namely Hong Kong Park, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Kowloon Park and Yuen Long Park.
“The birds we keep are healthy and we have not detected any cases of infection so far. The temporary closure of Yuen Long Park’s Aviary Pagoda is purely precautionary,” the spokesman said.
“We have arranged to step up the frequency of cleaning the aviaries to three times a day to maintain a high level of hygiene. We have also reminded staff to strictly follow the guidelines when cleaning bird droppings and handling dead birds found in our venues.”
As a health precaution, signs have been put up at all LCSD venues where there are bird collections or congregations of wild birds to remind the public not to touch the birds or their droppings.
The LCSD spokesman urged members of the public not to feed wild birds.
“It is an offence to feed or attempt to feed any birds at LCSD venues. Anyone found doing so will be prosecuted, and is liable to a fine of $2,000 and 14 days’ imprisonment.”
China | Oriental magpie robin and grey heron test positive for H5N1 virus in Hong Kong
Hong Kong | 14 Feb 2012
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (February 14) that a dead Oriental magpie robin and a grey heron found in Yuen Long were confirmed to be H5N1 positive after laboratory testing.
The grey heron was found and collected in grassland near the Shan Pui River, Nam Sang Wai Road, Yuen Long, on February 8. The grey heron is a common winter visitor.
The magpie robin’s carcass was found and collected at the rooftop of No 14, Lane 2, Tung Tau Wai San Tsuen, Wang Chau, Yuen Long on February 7. It was decomposed when found and required a series of tests before H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed today. The Oriental magpie robin is a common resident bird in Hong Kong.
The spokesman said that three chicken farms are within 3 kilometres of where the bird was found. AFCD staff inspected the farms and found no abnormal mortality or symptoms of avian influenza among the chicken flocks. The farms will be put under enhanced surveillance.
In view of the case, the AFCD has phoned poultry farmers to remind them to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against avian influenza. Letters have been issued to farmers, pet bird shop owners and licence holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons reminding them that proper precautions must be taken.
The spokesman said the department would conduct frequent inspections of poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza have been implemented. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance.
“People should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for follow-up if they come across suspicious sick or dead birds, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry,” the spokesman said.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over imported live poultry as well as live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.
The Department of Health will keep up with its health education to remind the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent avian influenza.
The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal import of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of avian influenza outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.
All relevant government departments will continue to remain highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against avian influenza.
China | Notification of a human case of H5N1 in Guizhou
Guizhou | 22 Jan 2012
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from the Ministry of Health (MoH) today (January 22) concerning a confirmed human case of influenza A (H5N1) in Guizhou.
A CHP spokesman said the patient was a 39-year-old man living in Guizhou. He developed symptoms on January 6 and was admitted to a hospital on the same day. He is now in critical condition. The man did not report obvious exposure history to poultry before the onset of symptoms.
Laboratory tests on the patient’s specimen by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention yielded a positive result for H5N1.
The CHP is maintaining close liaison with the MoH to obtain more information on the case. We will heighten our vigilance and continue to maintain stringent port health measures in connection with this development, the spokesman said.
The spokesman reminded members of the public to remain vigilant against avian influenza infection and to observe the following measures:
* Avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings; if contacts have been made, they should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water;
* Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating;
* Wash hands frequently;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue and put it into covered dustbins;
* Avoid crowded places and contact with sick people with fever;
* Wear a mask when you have respiratory symptoms or need to take care of patients with fever;
* When you have fever and influenza-like illnesses during a trip or when coming back to Hong Kong, you should consult doctors promptly and reveal your travel history.
For further information on avian influenza, please visit the CHP website: www.chp.gov.hk.
China | Alert on aconitum alkaloid poisoning in Hong Kong
Hong Kong | 13 Jan 2012
The Department of Health (DH) today (January 13) announced for the public’s early information a case of aconitum alkaloid poisoning of unknown origin while the investigation is still ongoing.
A DH spokesman said that the incident was referred by the Hospital Authority (HA). It was reported that on December 28, 2011, a 35-year-old Chinese male developed symptoms and signs compatible with aconitum alkaloid poisoning, including perioral numbness, shortness of breath and palpitations. He went to the Mainland on the same day and subsequently sought emergency care from United Christian Hospital on December 30 and was discharged after consultation.
“There was a history of consuming Chinese herbal medicines for health maintenance prescribed by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner stationed in Po Yan Tong Medical Company, a licensed Chinese herbal retailer in Sai Wan.
“The clinical suspicion was confirmed by HA through testing of the patient’s urine and herbal remnants. Specifically, two rare aconitum alkaloids, yunaconitine and crassicauline A, were found in both,” the spokesman said.
“The above are particularly potent aconitum alkaloids which can even be life-threatening because they can cause breathing difficulties and cardiac arrhythmia. Hence, DH commences investigation immediately.
“However, until this moment, we have failed to locate the patient.
“Nonetheless, working on whatever information is available, DH inspectors note that among the 23 Chinese herbs prescribed to the patient, none should contain yunaconitine and crassicauline A”, the spokesman said.
Also, both on-site inspection at the retailer by DH Chinese medicine experts and analysis by the Government Laboratory of specimens collected could identify no evidence of contamination in Po Yan Tong’s Chinese herbal medicine stock that could explain the detection of the two aconitum alkaloids.
“In fact, Chinese medicinal plants known to contain the above two alkaloids are limited to only a few and these are known to be rarely, if ever, used in Hong Kong,” the spokesman said.
“While the investigation continues, healthcare professionals should be on the alert and report to DH if they come across suspicious cases,” he added.
So far, DH has not received any other report of related adverse incidents.
China | Little Egret tests positive for H5 virus
Yuen Long | 14 Jan 2012
Preliminary testing of a dead Little Egret found in Yuen Long has tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (January 14), adding that further confirmatory tests are being conducted.
The bird carcass was found and collected beside a tree outside Yuen Long Office, Wetland and Fauna Conservation (Enforcement) Section of AFCD, Lot 1520RP, DD123, Nam Sang Wai, Yuen Long on January 12. The Little Egret is a common resident bird in Hong Kong.
The AFCD has stepped up cleansing and disinfection of the office.
The spokesman said that two chicken farms are within 3 kilometres of where the dead bird was found. AFCD staff inspected the farms and found no abnormal mortality or symptoms of avian influenza among the chicken flocks. These farms will be put under enhanced surveillance.
In view of the case, the AFCD has phoned poultry farmers to remind them to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against avian influenza. Letters have been issued to farmers, pet bird shop owners and licence holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons reminding them that proper precautions must be taken.
The spokesman said the department would conduct frequent inspections of poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza have been implemented. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance.
“People should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for follow-up if they come across suspicious sick or dead birds, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry,” the spokesman said.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over imported live poultry as well as live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.
The Department of Health will keep up with its health education to remind the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent avian influenza.
The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal import of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of avian influenza outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.
All relevant government departments will continue to remain highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against avian influenza.
Health advice is available from the “H5N1 Health Advice” on the AFCD website at www.afcd.gov.hk .
China | Increase in influenza activity in Hong Kong
Hong Kong | 09 Jan 2012
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 9) called on the public to maintain vigilance against seasonal influenza as the latest surveillance data shows an increase in local influenza activity, signalling the impending arrival of the winter influenza season.
The Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) of the CHP has detected increases in the number of influenza isolations recently. The number of influenza virus detections reported increased from 68 in the week ending November 12, 2011 to 141 in the week ending January 7, 2012.
The current circulating influenza viruses mainly include influenza A (H3N2) virus and influenza B virus.
The CHP will continue to closely monitor the overseas and local situation of influenza activity. In addition, the CHP will collaborate with the Hospital Authority (HA) and private hospitals to enhance surveillance of influenza infection cases causing intensive care admission or death during the coming winter influenza season. At the same time, the CHP will continue to closely monitor cases involving severe paediatric influenza-associated complication/death.
The CHP has sent letters to doctors and schools / institutions to alert them of the influenza situation and remind them to keep abreast of the latest developments.
Influenza can cause medical complications, especially among vulnerable people such as the elderly, young children and those with chronic medical conditions. As the local influenza activity is expected to increase further during the next few weeks, target groups are advised to receive influenza vaccinations as soon as possible to protect their health.
The public are reminded to take the following measures to prevent respiratory tract infection:
* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
* Wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
* Maintain good indoor ventilation; and
* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.
Members of the public, particularly young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should wear face masks and consult their doctors promptly if they develop influenza-like symptoms.