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| Credit FAO - Apr 26th |
#12,415
While a significant drop from last week's surge of 27 cases, this week's notification by the NHFPC is notable for several reasons.
- First, the surge in cases in Sichuan province continues with 5 more cases reported (N=23).
- Second, Beijing reports two more cases, bringing their total for the year to 15.
- Third, we get the first report (of 2 cases) from Guangdong province in more than a month.
- And lastly, this report refers to a rare infection in a 4 y.o. child. While not unheard of, most cases have involved adults over the age of 30.
For now, the number of cases in this 5th wave sits just over 640 - notably now twice the size of the largest previous outbreak (wave 2) - which reported 320 cases over a 12 month period.
CHP notified of human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 28) received notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission that 17 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including two deaths, were recorded from April 21 to 27, and strongly urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The nine male and eight female patients, aged from four to 74, had onset from April 6 to 23. Five of the patients were from Sichuan, two each from Beijing, Guangdong and Shandong, and one each from Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Henan, Hunan and Jiangsu. Among them, 16 were known to have had exposure to poultry, poultry markets or mobile stalls.
Travellers to the Mainland or other affected areas must avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms. They should be alert to the presence of backyard poultry when visiting relatives and friends. They should also avoid purchase of live or freshly slaughtered poultry, and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings. They should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene if visiting any place with live poultry.
Travellers returning from affected areas should consult a doctor promptly if symptoms develop, and inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment of potential diseases. It is essential to tell the doctor if they have seen any live poultry during travel, which may imply possible exposure to contaminated environments. This will enable the doctor to assess the possibility of avian influenza and arrange necessary investigations and appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
While local surveillance, prevention and control measures are in place, the CHP will remain vigilant and work closely with the World Health Organization and relevant health authorities to monitor the latest developments.
The CHP's Port Health Office conducts health surveillance measures at all boundary control points. Thermal imaging systems are in place for body temperature checks on inbound travellers. Suspected cases will be immediately referred to public hospitals for follow-up.
The display of posters and broadcasting of health messages in departure and arrival halls as health education for travellers is under way. The travel industry and other stakeholders are regularly updated on the latest information.
The public should maintain strict personal, hand, food and environmental hygiene and take heed of the advice below if handling poultry:
The public may visit the CHP's pages for more information: the avian influenza page, the weekly Avian Influenza Report, global statistics and affected areas of avian influenza, the Facebook Page and the YouTube Channel.
- Avoid touching poultry, birds, animals or their droppings;
- When buying live chickens, do not touch them and their droppings. Do not blow at their bottoms. Wash eggs with detergent if soiled with faecal matter and cook and consume them immediately. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling chickens and eggs;
- Eggs should be cooked well until the white and yolk become firm. Do not eat raw eggs or dip cooked food into any sauce with raw eggs. Poultry should be cooked thoroughly. If there is pinkish juice running from the cooked poultry or the middle part of its bone is still red, the poultry should be cooked again until fully done;
- Wash hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, before handling food or eating, and after going to the toilet, touching public installations or equipment such as escalator handrails, elevator control panels or door knobs, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing; and
- Wear a mask if fever or respiratory symptoms develop, when going to a hospital or clinic, or while taking care of patients with fever or respiratory symptoms.
Ends/Friday, April 28, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:50
