Hong Kong steps up checks as new bird flu cases reported

Hong Kong health authorities on Tuesday stepped up checks on travellers and hospital patients after it was reported that the new H7N9 bird flu virus had infected four people in eastern China.

The Department of Health said its Centre for Health Protection (CHP) was closely monitoring the situation and would continue to liaise with mainland health authorities.

It advised Hong Kong travellers – especially those from Shanghai, Anhui and Jiangsu – to wear facial masks and seek medical attention if respiratory symptoms developed.

University of Hong Kong microbiology professor Ho Pak-leung said he believed the four new cases was not cross-infections between humans as no epidemiological connections were seen.

He believed the cases were contracted via contact with infected poultry – where the new strain might have commonly existed.

Ho said taking defensive measures at this stage was necessary but may prove difficult because infected poultry may not show any symptoms. He warned the public to pay extra attention when coming into contact with poultry.

New control measures announced in Hong Kong include intensifying checks of body temperatures of travellers from the mainland – particularly those from Shanghai and Anhui province where three of the infections were reported.