Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Hong Kong to quarantine 17 people over bird flu case #H7N9

[editing is mine]
December 03, 2013
Beijing: Hong Kong will quarantine 17 people after the city confirmed its first human case of the deadly H7N9 bird flu, officials said on Tuesday.

The 17 are mostly relatives of the employer of a 36-year-old Indonesian domestic helper, who is in critical condition in a Hong Kong hospital after a visit to mainland China.

They were all taken to hospital for observation.

"If those who had been in close contact (with the patient) don't have symptoms, we will later arrange for them to enter quarantine facilities," health minister Ko Wing-man told a press conference.

"Tonight, five people who were in close contact and do not show signs of infection will enter the quarantine," Ko said, adding that they will be held until 10 days after their last contact with the carrier.

A government statement later said all 17 people had tested negative for the virus, but would be sent to a holiday village in the seaside town of Sai Kung "for medical surveillance".

The Indonesian domestic helper had a history of travelling to the mainland city of Shenzhen, just across the border with Hong Kong, and coming into contact with live poultry, Ko said on Monday.

"She has a history of travelling to Shenzhen, buying a chicken, slaughtering and eating the chicken," Ko said.

She was admitted to hospital on November 27 after developing a cough and shortness of breath.

The city has suspended imports of live poultry from Shenzhen and escalated its flu contingency plan to "serious".

"At this point, we reckon it could be an imported case, but the government will continue to follow this up with full effort," said Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

In all, 137 human cases of H7N9 have been reported in mainland China since February with 45 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.

Continued:  http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-26555.aspx

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