Second H7N9 case classified: Health chief

December 07, 2013

The Centre for Health Protection has classified the second confirmed avian influenza A(H7N9) case as an imported case, Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man says.
 
Speaking to reporters today, Dr Ko said a second patient, who is an 80-year-old man living in Shenzhen, was confirmed yesterday evening to be infected with the virus.
 
The man went to Tuen Mun Hospital by taxi directly from the border upon his arrival in Hong Kong, and so the centre has classified it as an imported case at this stage, he said.
 
Dr Ko said the man's 19 contacts were all isolated in hospitals, and only one or two of them have mild upper respiratory track symptoms.
 
He said the Centre for Health Protection is liaising closely with Mainland authorities. "We hope that with such collaboration, it could enable the Mainland authority to isolate and identify the source of infection as soon as possible."
 
Dr Ko also said the first patient's condition has improved, but she is still being kept in the hospital's intensive care unit as a precaution.