H7N9 outbreak risk low: Health chief

December 04, 2013

Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man says there is no evidence that the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus can spread from person to person, and the outbreak risk is low.
 
Dr Ko told lawmakers today Hong Kong confirmed its first human infection with the virus on December 2, and the Government escalated the response level under the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic from 'alert' to 'serious' the same day.
 
Noting some press reports alleged a delay in identifying the case as H7N9, he said a positive test result for the patient was only recorded on December 2.
 
"I would like to clarify that the Hospital Authority took specimens of the patient on November 28 and 30, 2013, respectively for preliminary rapid tests, but the results were negative."
 
Dr Ko said according to epidemiological and laboratory investigation, contact with infected poultry or visiting wet markets with live poultry are important human infection risk factors.
 
"At present, there is no evidence showing that avian influenza A(H7N9) virus can cause sustained human-to-human transmission, and the risk of community outbreaks remains low."
 
He also said the confirmed case is likely an imported sporadic case, and the patient's close contacts' rapid testing results have so far been negative.
 
"We will continue to closely monitor the developments and continue to investigate the source of infection and mode of transmission of the case, in order to conduct risk assessment in greater detail," he added.