2009-05-26
A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (May 26) said that DH is investigating an imported case of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).
The case, the tenth in Hong Kong, involved a 56-year-old woman who returned to Hong Kong on May 23 from San Francisco by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific Airlines (flight no. CX873, codeshare American Airlines (AA6117)).
"The woman travelled with her husband to San Francisco, St Louis and San Jose from May 10 to 22. She had cough, sore throat, headache, chills and fever from May 16 to May19 but only had mild runny nose while she board the plane to Hong Kong.
"She sat at row 51 and wore a face mask onboard.
"Her husband also had sore throat from May 19 to 20 and his symptoms subsided before returning to Hong Kong. He also wore a face mask onboard." the spokesman said.
DH’s investigation showed that the couple took an airport bus to their home in Villa Athena, Ma On Shan.
She consulted her family doctor on May 25 over the phone and was advised to go to hospital. Accompanied by her husband, the woman attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital.
Laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from her yielded positive results for human swine influenza today.
She has been transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for isolation. Her husband and her mother have also been taken to PMH for observation.
DH is now tracing passengers sitting on rows 48 -53 of CX873 arrived in Hong Kong on May 23, the crew members of the flight who had served the cabin concerned as well as other close contact of the woman.
Passengers who had travelled on the flight are urged to call the DH’s Centre for Health Protection hotline 2125 1111.
Investigations into the case are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.
"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.
"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.
End/Tuesday. May 26, 2009