SECOND ALARM

Another case of H7N9 bird flu found in HK

Hong Kong confirmed a second patient with avian influenza A (H7N9) on Friday after the first case was reported five days ago.

The new patient was apparently exposed to the virus in Shenzhen — something Hong Kong experts said they were deeply concerned about.

The 80- year- old man, a long- time resident of Shenzhen, crossed the border on Tuesday with three family members to treat a diabetesrelated complication at Tuen Mun Hospital.

He developed fever on Friday morning and tested positive for the H7N9 virus strain hours later. His condition was stable on Friday.

The man’s family residing in Hong Kong and Shenzhen have since been subject to checks by health experts.

Though it was unclear whether the elderly man had direct contact with live poultry, Leung Ting- hung, controller of the Center for Health Protection, said the risk of transmission among people — and of a major outbreak — still remained low. Leung again appealed to the public to refrain from visiting live poultry markets, especially when travelling outside of Hong Kong.

Announcement of the first patient of H7N9 in Hong Kong was made on Monday evening. The 36- year- old Indonesian domestic helper, whose condition has reportedly improved, bought and cooked live chicken at an unknown wet market in Shenzhen in mid November.

A three-year-old boy from Dongguan was so far the only confirmed H7N9 patient reported in Guangdong.

Guan Yi, an avian flu expert of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), warned that a major outbreak would become very likely if there was “inaction”. He told NOW TV the huge quantity of poultry arriving in retail markets during Chinese New Year, along with frequent travel at the time, were worrying.

Ho Pak-leung, a microbiologist of the HKU, said the two local cases showed the H7N9 virus had been active in Shenzhen. He said a full ban of all live poultry sales in Hong Kong markets would block the spread of the virus more effectively.