#hk-prc-sar — Public Fediverse posts
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#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____
#africa #DRC #health #HKPRCSAR #mpox #news #undiagnosedIllness #updates #WHO
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#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 Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), in collaboration with relevant government departments, today (November 27) conducted a public health exercise, code-named "Amazonite", to enhance its response capabilities in dealing with a human case of avian influenza infection, and to strengthen the execution and co-ordination abilities of the DH and relevant departments in response to a human case of avian influenza, in order to enhance awareness among stakeholders on the handling of public health emergencies.
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____
#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #AVIANINFLUENZA #birdFlu #china #h5n1 #health #HKPRCSAR #news #pandemicPreparedness #updates
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Source: WOAH, https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6008
An intensive surveillance system is in place for avian influenza virus including screening at Mai Po Nature Reserve (Reserve) in Hong Kong. Among the environmental samples collected by the University of Hong Kong on 6 November 2024, a sample of wild bird fecal dropping has been confirmed to be positive for H5N1. The organization managing the reserve has stepped up cleaning and disinfection of visitor facilities. The government is closely monitoring the situation of the birds in the reserve. There are no poultry farm within 3 km of the reserve. The government has closely monitored the situation of the local poultry farms and wholesale market. Poultry farmers, pet bird shop owners and licensed holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons are reminded from time to time to ensure that proper precaution against avian influenza have been implemented.
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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:
- Hubei Province, A six-year-old boy with onset on October 7, 2024.
- Hunan Province, A ten-month-old boy with onset on September 30, 2024.
- Hunan Province, A one-year-old girl with onset on October 8, 2024.
- Hunan Province, A three-year-old boy with onset on October 11, 2024.
- Hunan Province, A five-year-old boy with onset on October 14, 2024.
- Jiangxi Province, A seven-year-old boy with onset on October 8, 2024.
- Sichuan Province, A 67-year-old woman with onset on September 23, 2024.
(…)
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#aH9n2 #AVIANINFLUENZA #china #HKPRCSAR #hubei #human #hunan #jiangxi #sichuan #updates
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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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#aH5n1 #avianInfluenza #AVIANINFLUENZA #birdFlu #environmentalContamination #h5n1 #health #HKPRCSAR #news #updates
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Source: Lancet Infectious Diseases, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00574-7/fulltext?rss=yes
Summary
Background
Existing studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection have mainly focused on severe clinical outcomes; understanding of the clinical severity profile of general community infections is poor. We aimed to assess and compare the clinical profiles of infections with SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) subvariants in a representative community cohort in Hong Kong during periods of BA.2, BA.4/5, and XBB dominance.Methods
In this prospective cohort study in Hong Kong, a representative community cohort of individuals aged at least 5 years were recruited by random-digit dialling and underwent weekly rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2, irrespective of symptoms, during three periods from March 1, 2022, to Oct 31, 2023, in which the BA.2, BA.4/5, or XBB subvariants were dominant. We analysed the likelihood of symptoms, as well as the patterns, severity, and duration of symptoms and their associations with participant demographics and vaccination and infection histories.Findings
1126 (11·0%) of 10 279 participants in the BA.2 period, 830 (6·6%) of 12 588 in the BA.4/5 period, and 633 (11·1%) of 5690 during the XBB period tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection on rapid antigen tests. Community infections were generally mild, with asymptomatic infections comprising 22·0–25·0% of infections. No hospitalisations or deaths occurred as a direct result of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the study period. Compared with children aged 5–17 years, a higher likelihood of being symptomatic on infection was found for adults aged 18–59 years during the period of BA.2 dominance and adults aged 60 years or older during XBB dominance. Most (>90·0%) participants with symptomatic infections reported respiratory and systemic symptoms. Up-to-date vaccination with a regimen containing the BNT162b2 vaccine, compared with those without an up-to-date vaccine, was associated with a reduced likelihood of symptoms on infection during the period of BA.2 dominance and of severe symptoms causing substantial disturbance to daily life (grade 3 symptoms) during periods of BA.2 and BA.4/5 dominance, whereas no association was observed during the period of XBB dominance. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a reduced likelihood of symptoms on infection during BA.4/5 and XBB dominance and of severe symptoms during XBB dominance. Reports of severe symptoms increased over the three periods, from 236 (27·7%) of 852 symptomatic participants during BA.2 dominance to 176 (37·1%) of 475 during XBB dominance. The duration of symptoms was longest in the BA.2 period (median 10·0 days [95% CI 9·0–10·0]) and similar in the other two periods (8·0 [8·0–9·0] during BA.4/5 dominance and 8·0 [8·0–9·0] during XBB dominance). A symptom duration of 60 days or longer was reported only during the period of BA.2 dominance, in six (0·7%) of 824 infections.Interpretation
SARS-CoV-2 infections were generally mild, but not increasingly so, along the evolution of omicron subvariants in this highly vaccinated population. About a third of participants with symptomatic infections reported that the symptoms severely affected daily life even if they were not admitted to hospital, resulting in morbidity, absence from work or school due to illness, productivity loss, and increased medicoeconomic burden. A gradual reduction in the association of vaccines and increase in the association of previous infection with the symptom profile, possibly reflecting the effects of immune escape and waning, were observed over the study period.____
#abstract #betacoronavirus #coronavirus #covid #COVID19 #health #HKPRCSAR #omicron #research #sarbecovirus #sarsCov2 #vaccine