# 7081
Earlier today in Hong Kong Testing First Suspected H7N9 Case, I blogged about a 7 year-old girl recently returned from Shanghai who had flu-symptoms and was being tested for the H7N9 virus.
The test results are back, and not unexpectedly – since Hong Kong is still experiencing their regular flu season – this little girl has tested negative.
Hong Kong authorities, with memories of the 2003 SARS epidemic still fresh, are unlikely to take any chances with suspected cases. Out of an abundance of caution, I expect we will see a fair number of people tested over the next few days.
This update from Hong Kong’s Centre For Health Protection.
Fever patient with travel history and poultry exposure tested negative for H7
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 5) provided an update on the suspected imported human case of Influenza A(H7). Preliminary laboratory test results for the respiratory specimens of the 7-year-old girl today showed negative for Influenza A (H7).
The CHP today received notification from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) of a female patient who visited Shanghai, Jiangsu and Hunan with her family from March 23 to April 3. She developed fever and sore throat today and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of QEH. She is now admitted to the isolation ward for further management and her condition has been stable all along.
"Influenza A (H7) is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong and no human cases of Influenza A (H7N9) have been recorded so far," a spokesman for the DH stressed.
The spokesman also reminded doctors to report any suspected case of Influenza A (H7) to the CHP and the PHLSB is ready to receive and test specimens whenever necessary.
Travellers, especially those returning from Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with fever or respiratory symptoms are urged to wear facial masks immediately, seek medical attention, and reveal their travel history to doctors. Healthcare professionals should also pay special attention to those who might have contact with birds, poultry or their droppings in the affected areas.
