Note: This story is updated in Hong Kong Woman Tests Negative For H5N1
# 6010
Hong Kong – which was the site of the first known cluster of human H5N1 cases nearly 15 years ago – is one of the few places in the world where public health authorities take notice of something as seemingly inconsequential as a single sick (or dead) bird.
Located adjacent to mainland China - which has long history of H5N1 outbreaks in poultry and in wild birds - Hong Kong authorities remain vigilant for any signs of encroachment by the virus.
Photo Credit- Wikipedia
While surveillance and reporting from the mainland are often lacking, the detection of H5N1 in dead chickens floating down the Pearl River (see The Winter Of Our Disbelief), and in migratory waterfowl (see Hong Kong Discovers Another Infected Heron) over the years, point to the mainland as an ongoing source of the virus.
The danger that humans would contract the virus from coming in contact with the occasional infected wild bird is considered fairly remote, but not zero.
Which explains the furor today over a sick (later determined to be H5 positive) bird that was discovered recently at a secondary school in Yuen Long.
Apparently at least one person (48, F) who had contact with the bird is now showing signs of influenza-like-illness, and has been placed in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for further testing.
It should be noted that this is cold & flu season, and that there are other common viral illnesses that could produce similar symptoms.
We’ll have to wait for confirmation to know if this woman has been infected with the H5N1 virus.
Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is leading the investigation, and has published this press release:
CHP is tracing the contacts of the H5 dead bird
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:52
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is liaising with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in tracing persons who had potential contact with the Black-headed Gull found at Chiu Lut Sau Memorial Secondary School, Yuen Long, which was tested positive in the preliminary test for H5 avian influenza virus.
So far, one of the contacts was symptomatic and she was arranged to admit to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for further testing and isolation. The other contacts have been put under medical surveillance.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the 48-year-old woman, who worked as clerical staff in the school, had picked up the sick bird with bare hand and without face mask on December 13 and placed it in a box in the school office before it was collected by the AFCD. She developed fever, sore throat and diarrhea the next day and consulted a private doctor today (December 15).
"In view of the latest development, the patient has been sent to PMH for isolation and treatment. Tests for H5 are being conducted and results will be available tomorrow morning," a CHP spokesman said.
According to the information in hand, the patient enjoyed good past health. She did not have recent travel history.
The spokesman said, "The CHP has identified six home contacts of the patient and all of them are currently asymptomatic. Of them, the 11-year-old son of the patient developed fever and cough on December 13 and has now recovered. As a precautionary measure, he has been arranged to PMH for isolation and laboratory testing. Contact tracing continues."
"The school has been advised to suspend class for a day tomorrow (December 16) for thorough cleansing and disinfection. The CHP will assess the need for further class suspension subject to development."
Ends/Thursday, December 15, 2011
The news.gov.hk website also has the following news story regarding this case.
Woman ill after touching bird with virus
December 15, 2011
People are urged to avoid contact with birds after a woman fell ill after touching a black-headed gull which later tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus.
Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang told reporters today the 48-year-old woman developed flu symptoms yesterday, a day after she picked up the sick bird with her bare hands.
He said the woman and her 11-year-old son have been sent to Princess Margaret Hospital for tests and the results are expected tomorrow morning. Other family members have no symptoms.
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department collected the sick bird on December 13 from Chiu Lut Sau Memorial Secondary School in Yuen Long, where the woman works. The bird died the next day. More tests are underway.
Dr Tsang has advised the school to suspend classes tomorrow for thorough disinfection.
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has inspected four chicken farms nearby and found no abnormal deaths. It is reminding poultry farmers to strengthen precautionary measures.
People should call 1823 if they come across suspicious sick or dead birds.
All relevant government departments will continue to remain vigilant and enforce preventive measures against bird flu.
I’ll report back any news we get on the laboratory tests and investigation.
