SFH on human case of influenza A (H5N1)

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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session regarding a human case of influenza A (H5N1) at the West Wing lobby of Central Government Offices today (November 17):

Reporter: Is there a risk for a community outbreak right now? Will the passengers on the same plane be traced?

Secretary for Food and Health: According to our existing analysis, there is no sign of human to human transmission. Most of the H5N1 infections are now transmitted from poultry to human. So I think we have to first concentrate on the source of infection from the poultry as origin. Of course, we need to trace all the contacts that this patient has with particularly close contact. The risk of travelling together when she came back to Hong Kong without any symptoms is extremely slim. But we will be concentrating on people who were in contact with her when she showed symptoms and also when she was in Hong Kong.

Reporter: When can we say for sure that this case is an imported or local case?

Secretary for Food and Health: I don't think we can say for certain this is an imported case or local case. According to the authorities and also the World Health Organisation, the incubation period of influenza can be as long as about two weeks. And this patient has developed her first symptom one day after she arrived back in Hong Kong. So of course when you look at that, the chances of she catching it is most likely in Mainland, but you cannot really rule out whether that is in Hong Kong as well, because even within a day, sometimes the incubation can be as short as that. We try to rule out everything according to the other circumstantial evidence in terms of contacts and also the viral studies. The viral studies might be the best indicator whether this is a virus from more Northern part of China or in the Southern part of China.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:17
Hattip Dutchy

..this is the translated part
FHB speaks influenza cases
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Following Secretary FHB CHP Dr Chow Dr Tsang today (November 17th) West Wing in CGO lobby cases to an met press Influenza transcript (Chinese part):

FHB Secretary: I announce today five p.m. DH has confirmed a female patient 59 infection H5N1. This patient in November 1st the incoming, November 5 fever pick enter Tuen Hospital. Tuen Hospital think she present seriousness pneumonia she situation may need shortly enter ICU.

We her, H5N1, today laboratory DH and HKU Laboratory also confirmed. Present we immediately alert level to "serious" Response Level This guidance based existing practice.

We provisional view case as "input" greater chance cases because day after patients return has symptoms; But nor exclude she may locally infection. According Tourist record she to Shanghai, Hangzhou Nanjing three round Shanghai in Local also wet markets her.

In Hong she living Tuen Mun also Tuen Mun District a markets so we homework this work Tuen markets some today immediately cleaning. Because this market stalls live chickens is "day clearance" Therefore has unable obtained any samples.

Here we also inform Mainland authorities hope they follow this incident temporarily her family no symptoms fever or pneumonia Therefore present, we think not any interpersonal transmitted crisis.

As virus itself situation is what virus there genetically changes or similar South or north virus, requiring further examinations will clear.

Also we strengthen particularly input local and wholesale markets chickens monitor testing while hope enhance this clean here we will spare work. Addition We will continue follow up how family patients and persons have contacted their health. Following I Please Dr Tsang (CHP Dr Tsang) re elaborate.

CHP: to patients contacts some intimate Our tracking situation consists two. Part is her family the patient fact her daughter husband to China mainland Secretary also said they visited Shanghai, Nanjing Hangzhou we have reach these contacts family then arrangements some tests them on admission inspection.

Intimate contacts Another is worked with this patient same room same hospital five patients initial contact them we found they did pneumonia symptoms close supervision we and do more them tests ascertain their whether infected.

Sum currently situation contacts nothing special abnormal we see initially signs human transmission.

Reporter: She visited Tuen Which Market?

CHP: Tuen Chi Lok benevolence Market.

Reporter: (relevant present outbreak avian risk)

FHB Secretary: We present put alert level to "serious" is think this region this risk course region including Kong and her Visited places including Mainland we will aspects improving vigilant well monitoring work doing present. For general public We always all advised Calls everyone when in contact poultry careful especially staff handling poultry including wholesale transportation and retail constituency; while persons to markets buy chicken also to compare careful. The patients Mainland infected or Hong infected we hope more tests this area see virus is similar Yangtze coast avian flu Or calendar Hong Kong particular our wild Laboratory birds or phoenix regard to virus similar. This regard need further tests can affirmed.

Reporter: She Mainland not contacted chickens itinerary ever been farms place? Mainland recently no outbreaks situation?

FHB Secretary: this Please Dr Tsang answer.

CHP: Our information preliminary patient husband mention her Some markets Mainland ever been also eating too chickens but details we need more understanding. As avian mainland situation We always have monitoring seems recent months no new cases we retrospective supremacy a H5N1 cases human infections in June in Hubei a cases. After no human infections.

Reporter: has received local farms irregularity?

FHB Secretary: We asked all farms No any abnormal situation. But course we hope they closer care their chickens. Wholesale will increase we inspections chickens inspection and sampling stool more samples.

Reporter: patient health How?

Secretary FHB: patient present serious she pneumonia and may shortly need enter ICU treatment. I understand doctors have given appropriate antiviral patients include two drugs antiviral One is "Tamiflu" other is "Relenza" Both used together.

Reporter: situation patient how anxious ... ... whether before pending treatment deteriorated?

CHP: or me more information. The return patient November 1, November 2 that day began some runny nose; with these symptoms sustained and comparative worsening; until November 5 fever while cough and bloody sputum. Tuen Hospital in November 14th receiver her hospitalization while her some treatment and isolation. She therefore first symptoms appear in November 2nd but progress because symptoms not fast not nosedive Which So to November 14th she only hospitalized.

Reporter: November 5-14 whether patients doctor during?

CHP: in November 12 She also once been Tuen Hospital was Hospital given her some drugs she home observation. But condition not improved Therefore she November 14 again Tuen Mun Hospital.

Reporter: to NDH?

CHP: this depth check need again but when she have done some checks. Addition preliminary information our She once seen a private doctor We are now Learn private doctors situation. Example patients go doctor that day or then illness how etc.

Reporter: She When Mainland? Whether participate tours?

CHP: her Mainland time is October 23rd then November 1 back Hong free exercise she no with regiment.

Reporter: November 2 to November 14th, she contact anyone there contact follow persons she?

CHP: this also our investigating main are concentrated intimate contacts because avian we know years spread very weak human transmission so unlike general influenza with like infectious. Present We mainly tracking some close contact persons she once such is living or conjunction utensils etc. Some intimate contacts.

Reporter: explain How long once more latency? Why This case not exclude incoming or belong by Mainland Local cases?

CHP: As spoken Secretary avian flu latency can up weeks. General, more within is disease week if we recall patient history her premorbid week some time or spent most Mainland but also fraction time in HK until example between in November 1st. So we trustworthy sake obtain more follow temporarily hope information especially virus analysis before Try defined is Local or imported cases.

Reporter: Market aspects what follow? Will special attention work there persons situation?

FHB Secretary: FEHD has instant cleaning the markets especially markets chicken stalls part. Because already Market chickens "day Nissin" measures So basically night no chickens exist. Therefore we not can follow chickens this situation especially her Go this Market has almost dozen recently Therefore unable virus through this follow up.

Reporter: She when to Tuen Market?

CHP: Our initial understanding She once early November been, probably November 2 or three day but aspects need revalidation.

FHB Secretary: ie before disease visited her.

Reporter: enhance level aspects measures? Will strengthen the port regard monitored?

FHB Secretary: Port regard still have fever tests we think that already quite sufficient important we hope follow this patient contacts problem. I believe important respect in chickens control feel nowadays avian until biggest risk are chickens body. Input we chickens Mainland and local farms including from Mainland Hong Man Kam also regular tests addition, wholesale also random checks additional we this checks number. Hong Kong entered winter began birds etc. increase we monitor situation phoenix will this aspects checks.

Reporter: increase checks much sample?

FHB Secretary: tomorrow will a interdepartmental I chaired meeting here we will further implement exactly how. Whilst look experts departments What advice.

Reporter: temporarily avian Will upgrading flu risk threat?

FHB Secretary: We improved level certainly think risk avian flu district not only Hong high because someone infected that anyone both people Mainland, or tourists have same risk we consider announced this respect need. We will to WHO (WHO) report.

Reporter: last there bird flu when?

FHB Secretary: should is two ○ ○ three years spring a input case a family from Shantou back infection.

Reporter: patient whether Shanghai visit Expo?

CHP: this need ask again more information know. Because first diagnosed Soon, some information need supplemented.

FHB Secretary: Our information she Shanghai living relatives home not dwelling hotel. She once been three places namely Shanghai, Hangzhou Nanjing every a place her visited will Back Shanghai time went she basically three Shanghai.

Reporter: Will further review central slaughtering policy?

FHB Secretary: present seems risk locally avian estimates chickens particularly No special increase. Course we continue monitoring long on one o'clock Research before see whether decision this respect. In monitoring chickens, we depends situation H9 how. Past we have announced since implement Market chickens "day Nissin" policy with H9 virus ratio reduced lot low so if carrying rate maintain We believe need revisit central slaughtering programs.

edited to add the five people in the same rooms did NOT have pnemonia but are under observation, and prolly tamiflu ,as the confirmed is taking tamiflu and relenza simutaneously

Babelfish translator by Alert gives the second statement as:

Another kind of intimate contact, was once with this patient in the identical hospital identical room five patients, we contacted them initially, detected that they did not have pneumonia's symptom, but we closely will also supervise, and made some tests for them, by determined that they whether or not received the infection.

which suggests that the Google translation might have missed a "not".

Thanks Alert!