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| Situation Update No. 1 Ref.no.: EH-20091224-24287-CHN
Situation Update No. 1
On 2009-12-24 at 04:28:08 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Location: China Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Sha Tin Hong Kong Number of Infected: 1 person(s)
Situation: A 3-year-old girl in Hong Kong was recently infected with influenza A/H9N2, a mild form of avian influenza rarely found in human beings, local health authorities said Wednesday. The Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said the girl developed cough and fever and had a running nose since late November. She was admitted to a local hospital. Influenza A/H9N2 was "detected in the patient's respiratory specimen," the center said. The girl was discharged on Dec. 11 and has now recovered. The center said the investigation was going on, adding that the Department of Health would inform the World Health Organization. Influenza A/H9 has been isolated from duck and chicken for many years. Infection in humans is rare, and appears to lead to a mild disease, it said, adding that Hong Kong has previously reported six human cases of the H9 viruses since 1999. Hong Kong has a comprehensive avian influenza surveillance program to monitor the presence of bird flu viruses in its environment and the possible reassortment of the viruses so that prompt responsive measures can be taken, the center said. |  | | | |
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