#17,007
As mentioned previously (see last March's HK CHP Reports 2 (Fatal) Cases of H5N6 on the Mainland (from 2021), China hasn't always been quick to report human cases of HPAI H5N6 (and other disease outbreaks).
`Bad news' in China is often regarded as a national security issue and is sometimes released `strategically', particularly during politically `sensitive times'.
And with the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party set for mid-October amid increasingly unpopular attempts to quell COVID and a damaged and slowing economy, I suspect this summer qualifies as `sensitive'.
After reporting 35 H5N6 cases in 2021, avian flu reports have dried up over past 5 months, with the last case reported on June 27th (but who fell ill 25 days prior). Before that we must go to May 18th (for a case who fell ill on April 16th and died on April 24th).
Today's case involves a 6-year old girl, who fell ill six weeks ago (July 30th), was hospitalized on August 3rd, and who reportedly remains in critical condition more than a month later. The few details we have come from the following Hong Kong CHP report.
CHP closely monitors human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Mainland
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 15) closely monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in the Mainland, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The case involves a 6-year-old girl living in Nanning, Guangxi, who had visited a live poultry market and had exposure to poultry from the market before onset. She developed symptoms on July 30 and was admitted for treatment on August 3. She is in serious condition.
From 2014 to date, 80 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by Mainland health authorities.
"All novel influenza A infections, including H5N6, are notifiable infectious diseases in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CHP said.
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 purchasing live or freshly slaughtered poultry, and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings. They should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when 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 public should maintain strict personal, hand, food and environmental hygiene and take heed of the advice below when handling poultry:
- 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 the eggs 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.
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.
Ends/Thursday, September 15, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:00
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While the lack of H5N6 these past few months has been somewhat reassuring, it is anyone's guess how much of China's avian flu problem is actually being reported.
Stay tuned.
