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.
China | Exercise Jadeite tests HK response to infectious disease
Exercise Jadeite: Staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department brief the disinfection team at the Field Command Post.
Hong Kong | 09 Jan 2012
The preparedness of government departments and relevant organisations to respond effectively to a major infectious disease incident was today (January 9) put to the test during an exercise organised by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), in collaboration with other government departments and organisations.
Code-named Jadeite, the exercise aims to test interdepartmental procedures and government contingency actions for the isolation and evacuation of a building and to enhance preparedness and interdepartmental co-ordination and co-operation.
The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for the DH and other departments and organisations concerned to try out relevant contingency plans and identify areas for improvement. It also enhanced community and healthcare personnel awareness, preparedness and the ability to detect and respond to possible epidemics.
Exercise Jadeite: Visiting health team conducts examination on a resident of Block Three in Hung Hom Estate Phase Two.
Today’s multi-agency exercise focused on ground movements taking place in Hung Hom Estate Phase Two as well as the flow of information among the field command and various participating parties.
The exercise scenario unfolded when the CHP received notification of two confirmed cases of severe disease X, a disease caused by a new form of virus recently identified in Hong Kong.
The CHP immediately started investigation into the two index patients – a man and a woman living on different floors of Block Three in Hung Hom Estate Phase Two. The male patient died shortly after admission to hospital while the female patient was admitted in critical condition.
The CHP subsequently advised the isolation of Block Three, evacuation of its residents and disinfection of the building after field investigation by the Multi-disciplinary Response Team identified possible environmental factors contributing to the cluster of cases.
The Director of Health, upon advice from the Controller, CHP, issued an isolation order for the building. Symptomatic residents in the same block were identified and sent to the Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation. Residents who were asymptomatic were sent to a quarantine centre.
Exercise Jadeite: Fire officers of the Fire Services Department assist in the inspection of the drainage system hanging outside Block Three in Hung Hom Estate Phase Two
The exercise ended with disinfection of the building and an assessment by the Multi-disciplinary Response Team to gauge if the building was ready for re-occupation.
Over 200 participants from government departments and organisations took part in the exercise, with 18 experts from the Mainland and Macao health authorities acting as observers.
China | Black-headed gulls test positive for H5 virus
Tuen Mun, Lantau, Hong Kong | Two dead Black-headed gulls found in Tuen Mun and Lantau have tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus in preliminary testing, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (January 3), adding that further confirmatory tests are being conducted.
The first gull was collected at EcoPark, 133 Lung Mun Road, Tuen Mun, on December 30, 2011 while the second one was found at a drain near Sha Lo Wan Soccer Pitch, Lantau, on January 1.
The Black-headed gull is a common winter visitor.
The spokesman said there were no poultry farms within three kilometres of where the dead birds were found.
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 | Further update on CHP’s investigation into Legionnaires’ Disease case
Hong Kong | A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (January 2) that final laboratory results on the water samples taken from the water tap at a private washroom inside a 67-year-old male patient’s office confirmed the preliminary ones announced earlier, with the level of Legionella species (including Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1) to range from 0.7 to 14.2 cfu/ml.
Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) is usually caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1.
No Legionella bacteria was detected in the water samples collected at the water tank of the same building, suggesting that the water source is free from contamination.
Water samples collected at the patient’s residence were all negative for Legionella bacteria.
According to international standards, immediate control measures including disinfection should be taken when the levels for Legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems exceed 0.1 -1 cfu/ml.
“The CHP has advised the building’s management office on appropriate follow up actions including disinfection and risk mitigation measures.
“Disinfection of the office building by the Architectural Services Department will be completed early tomorrow morning. The CHP will subsequently collect post-disinfection water samples tomorrow,” the spokesman said.
Legionella bacteria are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (25 to 40 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, cooling towers, whirlpool and spas, water fountains and apparatus that support breathing. Proper design, operation and maintenance of man-made water systems could prevent LD.
For more information about proper design, operation and maintenance of man-made water systems, please visit the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk) for the Code of Practice issued by the Prevention of LD Committee.
China | Suspected human case of H5N1 infection in Shenzhen
Shenzhen | The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from the Ministry of Health (MoH) tonight (December 30) concerning a suspected human case of influenza A (H5N1) in Shenzhen.
A CHP spokesman said the patient was a 39-year-old man living in Shenzhen. He developed symptoms on December 21 and was admitted to a hospital on December 25 because of severe pneumonia. He died on Saturday December 30th. The man had no travel history or contact with poultry before the onset of symptoms.
Preliminary laboratory tests on the patient’s specimen by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of Guangdong Province yielded positive result for H5N1.
The CHP is maintaining close liaison with the Guangdong Department of Health 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.
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