Photo credit Hong Kong’s CHP
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Although only one human infection has been reported thus far in neighboring Guangdong Province (see WHO H7N9 Update – August 11th), Hong Kong authorities are nonetheless visibly concerned having a case so near, and have stepped up their surveillance activities.
So far, H7N9 lacks the ability to transmit efficiently from human-to-human - a trait the virus would need to acquire before it could spark a pandemic.
While H7N9 has shown troubling signs of mammalian adaptation (see Science: H7N9 Transmissibility Study In Ferrets), It is unknown whether this virus will ever adapt well enough to human physiology to pose a genuine pandemic threat.
Scientists only know that it might. And so an abundance of caution is warranted.
Our first stop - a release from the Government of Hong Kong – outlining some of the steps they are taking to prevent entry of the virus into their territory.
Mainland poultry closely monitored: Ko Wing-man
August 12, 2013
Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man said in Beijing today that stringent measures are in place to prevent the spread of avian influenza to Hong Kong.
He spoke to the media after meeting Mainland officials, including the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Commissioner, to discuss strengthening cooperation on Chinese medicine.
On the recent human case of avian influenza (H7N9) in Guangdong involving a poultry worker, Dr Ko said there is strict monitoring and preventive measures to prevent affected poultry from entering Hong Kong.
Rapid tests for the bird flu viruses are conducted at Mainland poultry farms before their poultry can be sent to Hong Kong, and again when the birds arrive at the Man Kam To control point. They are held at the Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market in Cheung Sha Wan while awaiting test results.
The poultry can be sold only if results are satisfactory. Cleaning days are also held to maintain hygiene at the retail outlets and markets.
Dr Ko added that while it is not possible to prevent people who were infected but not showing symptoms from entering Hong Kong, frontline doctors have been alerted to raise awareness and carry out rapid tests and isolation on suspected cases.
It is important to identify cases quickly to prevent the disease's spread, he said.
Earlier today, Dr Ko called on the National Health & Family Planning Commission to discuss matters of concern including Hong Kong's restrictions on powdered formula exports. He said Mainland authorities understand and respect the policy that was introduced amid the problem of demand outweighing supply.
The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the Mainland and update them of any progress in the matter, he added.
Hong Kong’s CHP also sent out new letters to doctors and hospital administrators today, updating them on the confirmed case in Guangdong Province and reminding them of the importance of reporting any suspected cases immediately.
12 August, 2013
Dear Medical Superintendent,
Further to our letter to you dated 9 August 2013, please kindly be informed that the suspected human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong Province has been confirmed on 10 August 2013.
According to the Department of Health of Guangdong Province, the 51-year-old woman from Huizhou of Guangdong Province presented with fever since 27 July. The review test on the patient's sample by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on 10 August confirmed this case as a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9). The patient is currently in critical condition. The patient is a poultry worker of a market and has a history of exposure to live poultry. Among the 96 close contacts of this case, the patient's son developed low grade fever on 9 August. The test conducted on 10 August was negative for avian
influenza A(H7N9) and his fever has subsided. No abnormality was found among other close contacts so far.
In response to the newly confirmed case in Guangdong Province, while reporting criteria remains unchanged, I would like to urge you to pay special attention to those who presented with influenza-like-illness and had history of visiting wet market with live poultry or contact with poultry in Guangdong Province within the incubation period (i.e. 10 days before onset of symptoms). Please kindly be reminded that the list of affected areas is regularly updated and is available at the CHP website:
(http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/global_statistics_avian_influenza_e.pdf).
Also this morning, some cautionary statements by University of Hong Kong researcher & Virologist Dr. Leo Poon appeared this morning in RTHK English News, where he warns this coming winter could see a spike in H7N9 cases on the mainland if the virus is not successfully contained.
Expert says H7N9 could jump in China
12-08-2013
A Hong Kong university virologist, Leo Poon, has warned that the number of cases of the H7N9 birdflu virus on the mainland could spike this coming winter if measures are not taken to contain it.
Guangdong authorities confirmed its first case of human H7N9 infection at the weekend.
Dr Poon says it's worrying that poultry infected with this virus usually don't show symptoms or fall ill.
In a related development, renowned mainland medical expert, Zhong Nanshan, said the woman who recently contracted the H7N9 avian flu virus in Huizhou remains in serious condition.
But Professor Zhong stressed the case was an isolated one because none of the patient's close contacts had come down with the virus so far.
Meanwhile Hong Kong also continues to screen fever patients arriving from the Middle East for MERS-CoV, as in this report (Fever patient with travel history tests negative for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) issued today from the Centre for Health Protection.
The prolonged heightened state of alert over both MERS-CoV and H7N9 has prompted a major public health awareness campaign to the people of Hong Kong to take steps to prevent the spread of disease (see Hong Kong’s H7N9 Hygiene Messaging).
Hand hygiene messages are ubiquitous in the city, appearing on billboards, the sides of busses, and in posters in shop windows.
Hong Kong’s hyper-vigilance over infectious diseases comes as the direct result of the terrible toll that SARS took on Hong Kong a decade ago (see SARS And Remembrance). Between March 11th and June 6th of 2003, a total of 1750 cases were identified, and of those, 286 died.
Hong Kong’s respected Centre for Health Protection - which was created as a result of that epidemic – has since earned a solid reputation for taking a strong, open, and proactive stance against all communicable disease threats.
