02.06.2012

The Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) announced today the activation of Serious Response Level in public hospitals to tie in with the Government's raising the response level for avian influenza from "Alert" to "Serious". The serious response level under the Government's Preparedness Plan for influenza pandemic was activated as the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) investigated a case of influenza A H5 infection affecting a two-year-old boy.

The patient developed fever and runny nose on May 23 in Guangdong province. He came to Hong Kong on May 26 and sought medical attention from a private medical clinic in Mong Kok. Subsequently, he developed febrile convulsion and was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on May 28.  He was admitted for suspected encephalitis. He is now in stable condition.

A spokesman for the CHP said that the nasopharyngeal aspirate taken from the boy tested positive for Influenza A (H5). Further studies on the virus were in progress. Investigation revealed that the patient lived in Guangdong province with his parents and maternal grandmother. His exposure history during incubation period is pending. His home contacts were asymptomatic.