Hong Kong health authorities are warning locals to avoid poultry like the plague after a 68-year-old woman was diagnosed with the territory’s first case of the H7N9 strain of bird flu this winter.
The woman, whose festive holiday left something to be desired, having been submitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on Christmas Day, visited Longgang in Shenzhen earlier in the month and ate chicken.
She claims she did not, however, come into contact with live poultry either in Longgang or Hong Kong, and doctors are still determining the origin of the illness.
The health authorities are now scrambling to locate those who came into contact with the woman, who is in a critical condition.
Seven family members and five patients who were in the same cubicle when the woman was admitted to hospital have been placed in quarantine, while 47 other healthcare workers, ambulance drivers and hospital visitors are under surveillance.
Two private doctors who saw the patient before she was admitted to hospital are still to be traced. Dun, dun dun!
Don’t feel too sorry for those in quarantine, however, because they’re all going to be jollying it up at the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung, which has been designated as the bird flu sick bay. Clearly the village is having a bit of a slump in bookings this winter.
As of Saturday (Dec. 27), there have been 454 cases (and at least 184 deaths) from avian influenza reported on the mainland, and 16 cases exported to Hong Kong…. cue mainlander grumbles.
The influenza pandemic response level has been raised to “serious”, meaning body heat scanning will be performed at all border check points, protection controls will be strengthened, and visiting hours at hospitals reduced.
Hong Kong’s Department of Health has advised people returning from affected areas to wear masks if they develop feverish symptoms and seek medical assistance immediately. Chicken should be cooked thoroughly before consumption.
They also ask Hongkongers to refrain from doing generally gross things like handling bird droppings and spitting everywhere, but that goes without saying, we hope.
