Health & Community

6 test negative for H7N9

(December 10, 2013)

Six contacts of Hong Kong's first two human H7N9 infection cases have tested negative for the virus after developing non-specific symptoms.
 
They are five Tuen Mun Hospital staff and a client of one of the patients' doctors.
 
They are among about 400 people who have been in contact with the two patients, a 36-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man.
 
The six contacts recently developed the symptoms but tested negative for the virus.
 
Epidemiological investigations into the two cases by the centre, including contact tracing, are ongoing. Enhanced surveillance over suspected cases in public and private hospitals is under way.
 
The centre said it will continue liaising with the World Health Organisation, the Mainland, and overseas health authorities to monitor the latest developments.
 
So far 82 calls have been received on the centre's hotline (2125 1111) for public enquiries.
 
It urged travellers not to visit live poultry markets, and to avoid direct contact with poultry, birds and their droppings. They should also see a doctor immediately if they fall ill, and disclose their travel history.