CHP closely monitors human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) on Mainland

Breaking news: chp vigilantly watching human case of avian influenza a(h5n6) on mainland

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 27) closely monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) on the Mainland, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The case involves a 52-year-old female living in Quanzhou city in Fujian Province, who had exposure to backyard poultry before the onset of symptoms. She developed symptoms on April 13 and was admitted to a hospital for treatment on April 20. She passed away on April 30.

From 2014 to date, 90 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by Mainland health authorities.

"All novel influenza A infections, including H5N6, are notifiable infectious diseases in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CHP said.

Travellers to the Mainland or other affected areas must avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms. They should be alert to the presence of backyard poultry when visiting relatives and friends. They should also avoid purchasing live or freshly slaughtered poultry, and avoid touching poultry/birds or their droppings. They should strictly observe personal and hand hygiene when visiting any place with live poultry.

Travellers returning from affected areas should consult a doctor promptly if symptoms develop, and inform the doctor of their travel history for prompt diagnosis and treatment of potential diseases. It is essential to tell the doctor if they have seen any live poultry during travel, which may imply possible exposure to contaminated environments. This will enable the doctor to assess the possibility of avian influenza and arrange necessary investigations and appropriate treatment in a timely manner.

While local surveillance, prevention and control measures are in place, the CHP will remain vigilant and work closely with the World Health Organization and relevant health authorities to monitor the latest developments.

The public should maintain strict personal, hand, food and environmental hygiene and take heed of the advice below when handling poultry:

• Avoid touching poultry, birds, animals or their droppings;

• When buying live chickens, do not touch them and their droppings. Do not blow at their bottoms. Wash eggs with detergent if soiled with faecal matter and cook and consume the eggs immediately. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling chickens and eggs;

• Eggs should be cooked well until the white and yolk become firm. Do not eat raw eggs or dip cooked food into any sauce with raw eggs. Poultry should be cooked thoroughly. If there is pinkish juice running from the cooked poultry or the middle part of its bone is still red, the poultry should be cooked again until fully done;

• Wash hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, before handling food or eating, and after going to the toilet, touching public installations or equipment such as escalator handrails, elevator control panels or door knobs, or when hands aredirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing; and

• Wear a mask if fever or respiratory symptoms develop, when going to a hospital or clinic, or while taking care of patients with fever or respiratory symptoms.

​The public may visit the CHP's pages for more information: theavian influenzapage, the weeklyAvian Influenza Report,global statistics and affected areasof avian influenza, theFacebook Pageand theYouTube Channel.

Source: AI-generated images

HKSAR Government assists Hong Kong resident in returning to Hong Kong after completion of sentence in the Philippines

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced today (September 29) that in relation to a request-for-assistance case involving a Hong Kong resident who has completed a sentence in the Philippines, the Hong Kong resident concerned has returned to Hong Kong today as accompanied by officers from the Immigration Department (ImmD). This was made possible with the strong support of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR (OCMFA), the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines (the Embassy), the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD (AHU) and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore.

The HKSAR Government has always attached great importance to cases involving Hong Kong residents detained or imprisoned overseas. It attaches great importance to the legal rights of these Hong Kong residents and is committed to providing assistance to them. Upon the ImmD's receipt of the request-for-assistance from the family of that Hong Kong resident in 2003, the HKSAR Government has maintained close contact with the OCMFA and the Embassy, and has made every effort to provide practicable assistance to the Hong Kong resident and his family concerned. The Embassy also attached great importance to the case, arranging officials to pay visits to the Hong Kong resident concerned during his sentence, and actively approaching the local judicial authorities to follow up on the situation.

Upon learning that the Hong Kong resident concerned had completed his sentence in the Philippines, the ImmD and the Embassy actively liaised with relevant Filipino authorities to follow up and immediately issued him with the document for returning to Hong Kong to expedite the overall repatriation procedure. The AHU also sent officers to the Philippines to co-ordinate the relevant repatriation arrangements with the Embassy and the Filipino authorities. Accompanied by the ImmD's officers, the Hong Kong resident concerned has already returned to Hong Kong safely today. Under the ImmD's arrangement, he reunited with his family at the Hong Kong airport upon arrival in Hong Kong and expressed gratitude to the Embassy and the HKSAR Government for their years of assistance, which enabled his prompt return to Hong Kong to reunite with his family after being released. His family was delighted with the family reunion and thanked the HKSAR Government and the ImmD for maintaining close contact with them regarding the situation of the Hong Kong resident concerned, and for providing proactive responses to their assistance requests.

The HKSAR Government expressed gratitude to the OCMFA and the Embassy for their support and assistance in facilitating the prompt return of the Hong Kong resident concerned following his release, which resulted in a prompt and smooth repatriation arrangement. The ImmD will continue to follow up on the case and provide practicable assistance to the Hong Kong resident concerned.