#HK, Dept. of Health following up on #cluster of #infections of disease of temporarily unknown cause in #DRC {entry screening for inbound travelers}

Source: Government of HK PRC SAR, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202412/05/P2024120500492.htm

Following reports of a cluster of infections of a disease of temporarily unknown cause in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (December 5) that it had taken the initiative to seek further information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the DRC health authorities.

According to the information announced by the DRC health authorities, since late October, 79 deaths due to a disease of still unknown cause have been recorded in a district in Kwango province, and more than 300 people have been infected. Most of the patients were aged above 15 and suffered from fever, headache, runny nose, cough, breathing difficulty and anaemia.

“Under the current mechanism, Hong Kong has been equipped with the ability to detect infections of unknown cause and emerging infectious diseases at boundary control points and hospitals. On the immigration level, the DH has been conducting temperature screening for arrivals at all boundary control points. Those who are found to have a fever will be assessed and transferred to public hospitals for medical examination as appropriate. Upon noticing that a disease of temporarily unknown cause in the DRC, the DH has immediately tried to collect the latest information from various channels to conduct risk assessment and formulate appropriate preventive and control measures,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

There are currently no direct flights between the DRC and Hong Kong. The CHP has learned from the trade that travellers coming to Hong Kong from the DRC may generally choose transit hubs in Africa to Hong Kong, including Johannesburg in South Africa and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. In light of the disease of temporarily unknown cause in the DRC, the CHP has, as a precautionary measure, immediately stepped up health screenings at the airport for passengers on all flights arriving in Hong Kong from the above-mentioned transit hubs. Port Health staff have been arranged to carry out temperature checks for travellers at the relevant flight gates, conduct medical assessments for symptomatic travellers and refer suspected cases of infections with public health significance to hospitals for medical examination.

“Members of the public who plan to go to the DRC should be vigilant and pay attention to personal and environmental hygiene at all times, and avoid visiting crowded places and having contact with sick persons. Upon returning to Hong Kong, one should seek medical treatment as soon as possible if they feel unwell and take the initiative to inform their doctors of their relevant travel history,” he added.

Since October, the DH has not received any reports of people or travellers arriving in Hong Kong from the DRC suffering from unknown diseases.

“The DH will continue to closely monitor the situation in the DRC and WHO’s related information, and take appropriate preventive and control measures based on risk assessment to protect public health,” the spokesman said.

Ends/Thursday, December 5, 2024
Issued at HKT 18:15

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#africa #DRC #health #HKPRCSAR #mpox #news #undiagnosedIllness #updates #WHO

#China, #HK: #Exercise “Amazonite” enhances #Government’s #response to #human case of avian #influenza (with photos/video)

Source: Centre for Health Protection, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202411/27/P2024112700515.htm?fontSize=1

The exercise consisted of two parts. The ground movement exercise today was held at the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market. Under the exercise simulation, the CHP had received a notification from the Hospital Authority (HA) about a woman with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection, and commenced epidemiological investigations immediately. The investigations revealed that the patient was a chicken stallholder at a wet market. The CHP co-ordinated with relevant departments to conduct on-site investigations and risk assessment, and implement control measures at the patient’s residential building, the market where she worked, the wholesale poultry market, and related chicken farms. The ground movement exercise tested the capability of the CHP and relevant departments to carry out investigation and control measures, which included contact tracing and prescription of prophylactic antiviral therapy; chicken, environmental and sewage sampling; culling of chickens and disinfecting environmental. Approximately 30 personnel from four government departments participated in this ground movement exercise, along with over 30 experts from the Mainland, Macao and Singapore health authorities, who were invited to attend as observers.

The expert observers also attended the exercise briefing held at the CHP in the morning before the ground movement exercise, and visited the Lai Wan Market in the afternoon after the ground movement exercise to learn about the design features of new-style poultry stalls in the market.

The first part of the exercise, conducted on November 7, was a table-top exercise in which four relevant government departments and the HA discussed and co-ordinated the response measures required in a simulated scenario when a local human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) was reported in Hong Kong.

“This exercise provided a valuable opportunity for relevant government departments and the HA to test the response capabilities of stakeholders in the handling of a human case of avian influenza. The DH has held 30 similar exercises in the past, simulating the situation with cases such as measles, plague, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Ebola virus disease to enhance the community and healthcare personnel’s awareness of possible epidemics, and keep them alert and prepared,” the spokesman for the CHP said.

Avian influenza is caused by influenza A viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or ducks. Some avian influenza viruses can infect and spread to other animals, such as mammals, as well. Humans mainly become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.

“According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and health authorities outside Hong Kong, as of November 2024, more than 900 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) have been reported worldwide. So far this year, an increasing number of related cases were reported globally than previous years, with most of them reported from the United States. Locally, avian influenza is one of the statutory notifiable infectious diseases in Hong Kong. Since 1997, a total of 22 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) have been recorded in Hong Kong, among which seven had died. The most recent case was recorded in 2012. Although there is no evidence of genetic mutations in the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus that are associated with increased infectivity among people, the WHO has indicated that the global mortality rate of human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) in the past 20 years has exceeded 50 per cent. We shall stay vigilant and get prepared to prevent and combat the disease,” the spokesman said.

For more information on avian influenza, the public may visit the CHP’s thematic page on avian influenza.

Ends/Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Issued at HKT 19:45

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#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #AVIANINFLUENZA #birdFlu #china #h5n1 #health #HKPRCSAR #news #pandemicPreparedness #updates

Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/2024_avian_influenza_report_vol20_wk45.pdf

{Excerpts, edited}

On November 12 2024, the Ministry of Health of China notified to HK PRC SAR seven additional cases of human infection with H9N2 avian influenza virus, as follow:

(…)

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https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/11/12/china-reported-seven-new-human-cases-of-infection-with-avian-influenza-h9n2-virus-as-of-nov-12-24/

#aH9n2 #AVIANINFLUENZA #china #HKPRCSAR #hubei #human #hunan #jiangxi #sichuan #updates

Source: Hong Kong PRC SAR, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202411/08/P2024110800663.htm

{Excerpt}

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) was notified today (November 8) by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) that an environmental sample taken from the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR) tested positive for H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

In collaboration with the AFCD, a research team of the School of Public Health, HKU, collects samples from the MPNR regularly for avian influenza surveillance. One of the environmental samples collected on November 6 has been confirmed to be positive for H5N1 virus.

An AFCD spokesman said the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, the managing organisation of the MPNR, has stepped up cleansing and disinfection of tourist facilities including bird hides and floating boardwalk. Disinfectant carpet has been placed at the entrance of the MPNR for visitors to disinfect the soles of their shoes. In addition, the AFCD is closely monitoring the situation of the birds in the MPNR and has put up notices to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene.

There are no chicken farms within three kilometres of where the sample has been collected. The AFCD has strengthened avian influenza surveillance and been closely monitoring the situation of the local poultry farms and wholesale market. Poultry farmers, pet bird shop owners, and licence holders of bird exhibitions are reminded from time to time to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza have been implemented.

“People should avoid contact with wild birds and live poultry as well as their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for the AFCD’s follow-up if they come across birds suspected to be sick or dead, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry,” the spokesman said.

(…)

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https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/11/08/hk-environmental-sample-from-mai-po-nature-reserve-tests-positive-for-h5n1-virus/

#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #AVIANINFLUENZA #birdFlu #environmentalContamination #h5n1 #health #HKPRCSAR #news #updates

Source: Government of HK PRC SAR, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202410/19/P2024101900629.htm

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 19) that one Common Squirrel Monkey of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) that was put under isolated surveillance was found dead today. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will conduct necropsy on the animal body, to ascertain if the cause of death was the same as the other cases earlier.

The monkey is one of two Common Squirrel Monkeys put under isolation and medication since October 16 when their movement response were found unusual. At present, the remaining Common Squirrel Monkey and one De Brazza’s Monkey that has been isolated since October 13 are under isolated surveillance and given medication. A total of ten animals of the HKZBG have passed away since October 13.

The LCSD will continue to close the Mammals Section of the HKZBG, to closely monitor the health conditions of the animals, and continue to provide protective gear and health monitoring for staff who take care of animals. At present, the health conditions of staff concerned are normal.

Ends/Saturday, October 19, 2024
Issued at HKT 21:50
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https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/19/one-common-squirrel-monkey-of-hk-zoological-and-botanical-gardens-passed-away/

#animals #HKPRCSAR #monkeys #undiagnosedIllness #updates

Source: Government of HK PRC SAR, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202410/14/P2024101400613.htm

​In view of the death of eight animals in Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) yesterday (October 13), the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, convened an urgent interdepartmental meeting today (October 14) to listen to reports on the latest situation by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department as well as the Department of Health, and to discuss the way forward.

The meeting noted that the park staff have immediately stepped up monitoring of the conditions of all animals since yesterday. The movement response and appetite of a White-faced Saki and a De Brazza’s Monkey were found unusual and they were removed from the original animal cages for close monitoring. The White-faced Saki has passed away this morning. The Park will continue to observe its status of the remaining De Brazza’s Monkey.

The Mammals Section of the HKZBG has been temporarily closed from this morning to facilitate the close monitoring of the conditions of those animals. The disinfection and cleaning of animal cages involved were completed. The health condition of all 80 animals in the HKZBG are normal. For the sake of prudence, staff working there will wear appropriate protective gear and keep a close watch on their health condition. At present, all staff is in healthy condition.

In addition, the meeting discussed the different scenarios of case development and solutions. Relevant government departments will speed up autopsy and toxicological testing by relevant departments, so that the possible causes of the incident could be known as soon as possible.

Ends/Monday, October 14, 2024
Issued at HKT 23:12

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https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/14/hk-cstb-holds-interdepartmental-meeting-in-response-to-the-death-of-animals-in-hk-zoo-bg/

#HKPRCSAR #monkeys #undiagnosedIllness #updates

Source: Government of HK PRC SAR, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202410/14/P2024101400020.htm

​The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 14) that eight animals were found dead in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) yesterday (October 13), including one De Brazza’s Monkey, one Common Squirrel Monkey, three Cotton-top Tamarins and three White-faced Sakis. The LCSD had liaised with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Necropsy and laboratory tests have been arranged immediately to help find out their cause of death.

October 14, 2024
Issued at HKT 0:53

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https://etidioh.wordpress.com/2024/10/13/eight-animals-found-dead-in-hk-zoological-and-botanical-gardens/

#HKPRCSAR #monkeys #undiagnosedIllness #updates