# 8056
A couple of more updates out of Hong Kong this morning (Monday evening their time), with a short (2 minute) video statement by Dr Leung Ting-hung, Centre for Health Protection Controller, on the progress of the H7N9 investigation and a more detailed report on the latest meeting of Honk Kong’s Influenza Pandemic Contingency Steering committee.
H7N9 cases closely monitored
December 09, 2013
Hong Kong and Guangdong health authorities will exchange the latest information and maintain close liaison in their investigations into the recent human H7N9 infections.
Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Leung Ting-hung told the media today the source of infection has not yet been found.
The first patient handled live chicken in the Longgang district of Shenzhen, but she did not know the exact source of the chicken, Dr Leung said.
Family members of the second patient bought a slaughtered chicken in Fuyong town in Shenzhen, but the patient did not come into contact with live chicken and did not visit a live poultry market.
Mainland health authorities have taken samples from markets, but so far no positive results have been found, he added.The female patient, 36, is still in still serious condition but is improving, while the second patient, an 80-year-old man, still has a fever and is being treated also for a heart condition. Both patients are under close scrutiny.
Dr Leung appealed to the public to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, and avoid contact with wild animals, and live birds and live poultry, especially when travelling.
Additionally, we’ve a report coming out of the latest steering committee meeting on Pandemic Influenza, attended by multiple government agencies and departments.
While some of this is a rehash of what we’ve already heard this morning regarding the investigation (see H7N9 Updates From Hong Kong - Dec 9th) , I’ve excerpted some portions dealing with the investigation in Shenzhen.
Follow the link to read it in its entirety.
Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan Steering Committee meeting
(Excerpt)
According to all current information, the Steering Committee continues to believe the two cases are sporadic cases input. In addition to parties outside of the case informed the mainland, the center CHP and HA send personnel to travel together this morning in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City Health and Family Planning Commission, and Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, CDC, and clinical experts meeting. Both sides of the track the progress of the epidemiological investigation of two cases exchange. It proceeds from the current investigation, the first cases, the patient may have been to South Bay Street, Longgang District, a residential and handled chickens, but failed to clear the chickens sources. The second case, the patient's family had purchased chickens slaughtered good Shenzhen Fu Yong Town markets and cooking, but the patient does not go directly to contact with live poultry markets or chickens. The relevant Mainland authorities have launched an investigation and take samples for testing, so far no positive results. Both sides believe that indeed the source of the two cases can not be ascertained. The two sides agreed to continue close contact with each other informed of the latest situation.
In terms of imports of poultry as an emergency special precautions, Hong Kong from December 3 from registration suspended from Shenzhen to Hong Kong imports of live chickens from the farm, the measures remained. If the investigation to track the source of infection of any progress, the authorities light of the latest situation, at any time to discuss with Shenzhen inspection and quarantine departments on how to adjust the arrangements in this regard.
As Hong Kong's live poultry retail outlets, chickens farms and live poultry wholesale market, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will continue to inspect and strengthen these venues and clean disinfection, will continue from poultry and wild birds for avian influenza environmental samples tested. The two departments have always maintained close contact and cooperation with the customs, quarantine detector dogs to assist the use of passenger baggage checks at ports to combat illegal carrying of live poultry / poultry entry. Government will step up publicity and education to remind the public not illegal imports of live poultry / poultry.
