Archive - Hong Kong PRC SAR, pandemic influenza, information update, news (January to March 2010)

[Giuseppe]

Hong Kong: Critical case of human swine influenza at Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital (3/1/10)

Hong Kong: Critical case of human swine influenza at Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital (3/1/10)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) today (March 1) announced the following new case of a critical human swine influenza (HSI) patient

A 34-year-old female patient with good past health yesterday (February 28) attended PYNEH's Accident and Emergency Department due to fever and cough. She was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and positive result for HSI was confirmed on the same day. Tamiflu and antibiotics were prescribed. She is now in critical condition and requires ventilation support.

The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.
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[tetano]

Critical case of human swine influenza at Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital

Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The spokesperson of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) today (March 1) announced the following new case of a critical human swine influenza (HSI) patient?G A 34-year-old female patient with good past health yesterday (February 28) attended PYNEH's Accident and Emergency Department due to fever and cough. She was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and positive result for HSI was confirmed on the same day. Tamiflu and antibiotics were prescribed.

She is now in critical condition and requires ventilation support. The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.

Source: HKSAR Government

http://7thspace.com/headlines/336670/critical_case_of_human_swine_influenza_at_pamela_youde_nethersole_hospital.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%207thspace%20%287thSpace%20Interactive%29

[tetano]

Hong Kong : two new critical cases of human swine influenza

Hospital Authority announces two new critical cases of human swine influenza
************************************************** **********

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority today (March 3) announced two new critical cases of human swine influenza (HSI):

A 26-year-old female patient with asthma and epilepsy developed flu symptoms on March 1 and attended Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Positive result for HSI was confirmed yesterday (March 2). The patient was prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics. She was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit today and put on ventilator support. She is now in critical condition. The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.

In addition, a 59-year-old male patient with good past health attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Yan Chai Hospital yesterday due to fever and cough. He was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and positive result for HSI was confirmed on the same day. Tamiflu and antibiotics were prescribed. He is now in critical condition and requires ventilation support. The hospital will continue to closely monitor his condition.

Ends/Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:55

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201003/03/P201003030258.htm

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong : two new critical cases of human swine influenza

Hong Kong:Hospital Authority announces two new critical cases of human swine influenza (3/3/10)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority today (March 3) announced two new critical cases of human swine influenza (HSI):

A 26-year-old female patient with asthma and epilepsy developed flu symptoms on March 1 and attended Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Positive result for HSI was confirmed yesterday (March 2). The patient was prescribed with Tamiflu and antibiotics. She was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit today and put on ventilator support. She is now in critical condition. The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.

In addition, a 59-year-old male patient with good past health attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Yan Chai Hospital yesterday due to fever and cough. He was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and positive result for HSI was confirmed on the same day. Tamiflu and antibiotics were prescribed. He is now in critical condition and requires ventilation support.

The hospital will continue to closely monitor his condition.
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[Giuseppe]

Hong Kong: SFH on medical insurance and human swine flu (3/4/10)

Hong Kong: SFH on medical insurance and human swine flu (3/4/10)

Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (March 4):

Reporter:
How to ensure insurance company's profits would not be too great? Is there a possibility that the Government will sign an agreement with these insurance companies?

Secretary for Food and Health:
We have not decided how to implement this limitation on profit. For the standard insurance that we are proposing, we hope that it will not incur too high administrative fee or profit for the insurance company. But it does not mean they cannot make profit out of other products. In fact, a lot of experiences in overseas countries also allow insurance companies to sell other products to their clients, and this is one of the big reasons why the insurance companies are surviving and also they can actually have a bigger market. As you know the insurance companies do not just make money out of the premium alone, because they collect the premium and a lot of their profits come from investment of that premium money.

Reporter:
For the swine flu situation in Hong Kong, it is already March and we still have not seen another peak. Does that mean we are safe now?

Secretary for Food and Health:
It is quite true that we do not see a peak this winter so far and the winter is going to be gone very soon. Whether there will be a peak in later months is difficult to predict. But it is the opinion of our experts that the summer peak would still be something we need to be concerned about. Usually the summer peak will arrive about June and July and that is the usual pattern in Hong Kong.

Reporter:
Why did not we see winter peak this season?

Secretary for Food and Health:
We do not have a very solid reason that we can explain why the winter peak did not come about. But perhaps one of the more reasonable causes is the long summer peak we have in 2009. Remember that we had the first case in the middle of June and the peak actually started to rise very quickly in July and August. And it did not really come down until early October. According to some of our studies, quite a number of young people already had anti-bodies in their bodies. Perhaps this is the reason why they do not have a wide outspread in our schools in recent months.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
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[tetano]

Hong Kong: vigilance against seasonal influenza urged (Influenza B = 63.5% of total samples tested positive)

Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 4) called on members of the public to take precautionary measures against seasonal influenza. A CHP spokesman said the centre had been closely monitoring influenza activity. The latest surveillance data showed an apparent increase in seasonal influenza activity in the community.

The average consultation rate for influenza-like-illness (ILI) among sentinel private doctors rose from 42.8 per 1,000 consultations in the week ending February 20 to 55.1 in the week ending February 27. In the same period, the number of patients with fever/respiratory symptoms attending Designated Flu Clinics also increased from 410 to 704. The CHP recorded 28 ILI outbreaks in institutions affecting at least 154 persons in the first five days (February 28 - March 4) of the current week.

Influenza virus isolation in the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) also indicated a rise, the spokesman said. The PHLC recorded 85 influenza detections last week (February 21 to 27) compared with 44 influenza detections from February 14 to 20. Among the 85 influenza viruses isolated last week, the majority were influenza B virus (63.5%) while human swine influenza (HSI) virus accounted for 22.4% and influenza A (H3N2) virus about 1% of all isolates.

The currently used seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2009-2010 northern hemisphere influenza season is expected to confer certain cross protection against this influenza B virus. The winter influenza season in Hong Kong usually occurs during February and March. "More data over the coming one to two weeks will be needed to show more definitively that Hong Kong is entering the winter influenza season.

We will closely monitor the situation," the spokesman said. He added that as a preventive measure, the CHP will send letters to doctors, schools and institutions alerting them to the current influenza situation and provide advice on prevention and control. The spokesman reminded members of the public to take the following measures to prevent influenza and other respiratory illnesses: *Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking; *Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene; *Wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose; *Maintain good ventilation; and *Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.

People, particularly young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should wear face masks and consult doctors for medical advice promptly if they develop influenza-like symptoms.

Source: HKSAR Government

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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong: vigilance against seasonal influenza urged

Hong Kong: Vigilance against seasonal influenza urged (3/4/10)

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 4) called on members of the public to take precautionary measures against seasonal influenza.

A CHP spokesman said the centre had been closely monitoring influenza activity. The latest surveillance data showed an apparent increase in seasonal influenza activity in the community. The average consultation rate for influenza-like-illness (ILI) among sentinel private doctors rose from 42.8 per 1,000 consultations in the week ending February 20 to 55.1 in the week ending February 27.

In the same period, the number of patients with fever/respiratory symptoms attending Designated Flu Clinics also increased from 410 to 704.

The CHP recorded 28 ILI outbreaks in institutions affecting at least 154 persons in the first five days (February 28 - March 4) of the current week.

Influenza virus isolation in the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) also indicated a rise, the spokesman said. The PHLC recorded 85 influenza detections last week (February 21 to 27) compared with 44 influenza detections from February 14 to 20. Among the 85 influenza viruses isolated last week, the majority were influenza B virus (63.5%) while human swine influenza (HSI) virus accounted for 22.4% and influenza A (H3N2) virus about 1% of all isolates.

The currently used seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2009-2010 northern hemisphere influenza season is expected to confer certain cross protection against this influenza B virus.

The winter influenza season in Hong Kong usually occurs during February and March.

"More data over the coming one to two weeks will be needed to show more definitively that Hong Kong is entering the winter influenza season. We will closely monitor the situation," the spokesman said. He added that as a preventive measure, the CHP will send letters to doctors, schools and institutions alerting them to the current influenza situation and provide advice on prevention and control.

The spokesman reminded members of the public to take the following measures to prevent influenza and other respiratory illnesses:

*Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
*Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
*Wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
*Maintain good ventilation; and
*Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.

People, particularly young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should wear face masks and consult doctors for medical advice promptly if they develop influenza-like symptoms.
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[Giuseppe]

Hong Kong: HA weekly statistics of Designated Flu Clinics and admitted human swine influenza patients (3/4/10)

Hong Kong: HA weekly statistics of Designated Flu Clinics and admitted human swine influenza patients (3/4/10)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

Regarding the services of the eight Designated Flu Clinics (DFCs) and the confirmed human swine influenza patients admitted to public hospitals, the Hospital Authority (HA) today (March 4) provided the following wrap up of the past week:

In the past week (February 25 to March 3), a total of 975 patients with flu-like symptoms attended the DFCs. Among all confirmed human swine influenza patients, 48 are now staying in public hospitals for treatment, with 39 in stable condition, four in serious and five in critical condition.

Furthermore, the newly confirmed cases in the past week included four female staff members of public hospitals, comprising two nurses and two supporting staff. So far 1,357 HA staff members have been confirmed with human swine influenza.

Among them, 1,355 have recovered and returned to work.

The HA spokesman reminded members of the public that the eight DFCs run a half-day service from 9am to 1pm during weekends and public holidays, while full-day service (9am to 5pm) is maintained from Mondays to Fridays.
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[Tonka]

Hong Kong finds H1N1 mutation in pigs

http://www.porkworld.com.br/default.php?acao=documento&cod=9092

Hong Kong finds H1N1 mutation in pigs

Source: PigProgress05/03/2010 - 10:26

In the regular program of surveillance of the influenza virus, the University of Hong Kong(HKU) found that a sample from a pig in a slaughterhouse in early January, it contained a virus that was essentially the swine influenza (SIV), but also had characteristics of the gene of H1N1 pandemic due to genetic mutation.

The event is not unusual since the very pandemic H1N1 is itself a multiple mutation. The report says this may be occurring around the world and the discovery in Hong Kong was just a result of intensive surveillance. The report notes that there is no cause for alarm for the public health and that pork is still completely safe for consumption.

Although not entirely unexpected, is the first time that the mutant virus was found in the surveillance program. More tests are being conducted by the university to determine whether there are specific features of this strain.

A spokesman for the Center for Health Protection of the country said the laboratory of the Ministry of Health found no sign that the virus is present in the population of Hong Kong at this time. The surveillance of influenza in humans still intense. And that preliminary results showed that the virus is sensitive to the antiviral drug oseltamivir.

"The sample was taken from a pig imported from the mainland. We have informed the mainland authorities to tighten monitoring and supervision of registered farms supplying live pigs to Hong Kong," said the spokesman.

All pigs imported from the continent come from registered farms and are accompanied by health certificates issued by the Mainland authorities. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will also carry out inspection at the point of border control. The pigs have to go through tests before and after slaughter. Only inspected can be supplied to the market.

Authorities returned to remind employees of the blast and the people who may be in contact with live pigs to pay attention to personal hygiene and wear masks and protective equipment suitable for the work. To date, more than a third of the people involved in the production and trade of pigs slaughtered have received the flu vaccine A.

[tetano]

Hong Kong:newly confirmed critical human swine influenza case

Authority: The spokesperson of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) today (March 7) made announcement regarding a newly confirmed critical human swine influenza (HSI) case: A 56-year-old female patient with diabetes mellitus attended the Accident and Emergency Department yesterday (March 6) due to fever, cough and chest infection.She was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and positive result of HSI was confirmed on the same day.Tamiflu and antibiotics were prescribed to the patient and she is now in critical condition requiring ventilation support.The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.

http://7thspace.com/headlines/337413/pamela_youde_nethersole_eastern_hospital_announces_a_newly_confirmed_critical_human_swine_influenza_case.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%207thspace%20%287thSpace%20Interactive%29

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong:newly confirmed critical human swine influenza case

Hong Kong: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital announces a newly confirmed critical human swine influenza case (3/7/10)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) today (March 7) made announcement regarding a newly confirmed critical human swine influenza (HSI) case:

A 56-year-old female patient with diabetes mellitus attended the Accident and Emergency Department yesterday (March 6) due to fever, cough and chest infection.

She was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and positive result of HSI was confirmed on the same day.

Tamiflu and antibiotics were prescribed to the patient and she is now in critical condition requiring ventilation support.

The hospital will continue to closely monitor her condition.
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[The Source Document is available following the link displayed below.]

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[Giuseppe]

Hong Kong: HA weekly statistics of Designated Flu Clinics and admitted human swine influenza patients (3/11/10)

Hong Kong: HA weekly statistics of Designated Flu Clinics and admitted human swine influenza patients (3/11/10)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

Regarding the services of the eight Designated Flu Clinics (DFCs) and the confirmed human swine influenza patients admitted to public hospitals, the Hospital Authority (HA) today (March 11) provided the following wrap up of the past week:

In the past week (March 4-10), a total of 968 patients with flu-like symptoms attended the DFCs. Among all confirmed human swine influenza patients, 46 confirmed patients are now staying in public hospitals for treatment, with 36 in stable condition, four in serious and six in critical condition.

The newly confirmed cases in the past week included 17 staff members of public hospitals, (four male and 13 female, including one doctor, seven nurses, six allied health professionals and three supporting staff).

So far there have been 1,374 HA staff members confirmed as human swine influenza. Among them, 1,367 have already recovered and returned to work.

The Hospital Authority spokesman reminded people that the eight DFCs run a half-day service from 9am to 1pm during weekends and public holidays, while full-day service (9am to 5pm) is maintained from Mondays to Fridays.
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[Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong, China PRC SAR, link: View Original Article ]

[tetano]

Hong Kong: new death (#74)

【Hong Kong, Feb. 12, a spokesman for the Prince of Wales Hospital, announced a 81-year-old female patient of influenza A H1N1 today confirmed dead. The hospital said that one suffers from kidney failure, hypertension and diabetes, 81-year-old female patient have influenza symptoms, on February 24 to the Prince of Wales hospital emergency departments for treatment, required hospitalization. 26 patients diagnosed with influenza A H1N1, and was prescribed Tamiflu. Her condition further deteriorated, he was certified dead today. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Center for Health Protection. In addition, a good track record over the past 53-year-old healthy female patient because of cough, headache and diarrhea on March 10 to hospital accident and emergency department was later transferred to an isolation ward in hospital, and on the same day confirmed influenza A H1N1. A doctor's prescription for antibiotics and Tamiflu. Patient's condition worsened, transferred to intensive care wards, are currently required in order to help the breathing apparatus. Hospitals that will continue to closely monitor the situation. Hong Kong news agency Xinhua March 12

http://www.takungpao.com.hk//news/10/03/12/zhuliugan01-1227614.htm

[Shiloh]

Flu outbreaks close Wan Chai primary school

Source: http://news.gov.hk/en/category/healt...316en05004.htm

March 16, 2010
Surveillance
*
Flu outbreaks close Wan Chai primary school
*
Department of Health

Raimondi College Primary Section in Wan Chai will suspend classes for seven days from tomorrow following an outbreak of human swine flu and influenza B in the primary school, the Department of Health says.

Thirty-five boys and five girls, aged six to 11, have come down with flu-like symptoms since February 26. One student, who tested positive for influenza B, was hospitalised and been discharged. Another student tested positive for swine flu.

All the affected students are in stable condition.

[Giuseppe]

Hong Kong: Primary school advised to suspend classes (3/16/10)

Hong Kong: Primary school advised to suspend classes (3/16/10)

[Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR, View Original Article. Edited.]

The Department of Health today (March 16) advised Raimondi College Primary Section, a primary school in Wan Chai, to suspend classes for seven days starting tomorrow to stop the possible spread of influenza in the school.

The advice was made following an outbreak of human swine influenza (HSI) and influenza B in the school.

Investigation revealed that 35 boys and five girls, aged between six and 11, have developed influenza-like symptoms since February 26.

One of them required hospitalisation and has been discharged.

All the affected students are in stable condition.

A clinical specimen taken from the hospitalised student tested positive for influenza B while that of another affected student was positive for HSI.

The department has visited the school and advised staff on infection control measures. The school has been put under medical surveillance.

A spokesman for the department called on parents to pay attention to the health condition of their children, and to remind them to observe good personal and environmental hygiene practices.
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