The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is tonight (December 19) investigating the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong this winter, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

     The male patient, aged 75 with underlying illnesses, travelled to Changping, Dongguan alone on November 28 and attended a hospital there for chest discomfort on December 8. He returned to Hong Kong via Lo Wu on December 9 and was directly admitted to North District Hospital by ambulance for cough with sputum, shortness of breath, runny nose and chest discomfort. His nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for enterovirus/rhinovirus and negative for influenza virus upon testing by the CHP´s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB).

     The patient subsequently developed fever on December 17 and the clinical diagnosis was pneumonia. His nasopharyngeal aspirate collected today was confirmed to be positive for influenza A(H7N9) virus by the PHLSB tonight. He is now in serious condition and is under isolation and further management.

     The patient denied recent exposure to poultry or wet market.

     His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance. Tracing of his other contacts in Hong Kong, if any, is underway.

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Please refer CIMS map for detail report: http://map.flu.org.cn/Report.aspx