AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN – CHINA (02): (ZHEJIANG) H10N5 AND H3N2
CO-INFECTION SUSPECTED, FATAL, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Wed 31 Jan 2024 19:30 HKT
Source: Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
[edited]
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202401/31/P2024013100657.htm
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is
today [31 Jan 2024] closely monitoring a human case co-infected with
avian influenza A(H10N5) and influenza A(H3N2) in Zhejiang Province of
the Mainland, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal,
food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The case involves a 63-year-old female with underlying medical
problems, who developed symptoms on 30 Nov 2023 and was admitted for
treatment on 2 Dec 2023. She passed away on 16 Dec 2023. Her relevant
close contacts did not show any abnormalities during the medical
surveillance period.
According to information from the National Disease Control and
Prevention Administration, the genetic analysis revealed that the
genes of the H10N5 virus were of avian origin while the risk of H10N5
virus infection in humans is low, and human-to-human transmission has
not been observed.
“All novel influenza A infections, including H10N5, 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 doorknobs, or when hands are
dirtied 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: the avian
influenza page, the weekly Avian Influenza Report, global statistics
and affected areas of avian influenza, the Facebook Page and the
YouTube Channel.