Confirmed swine flu cases rise to nine
Updated: 2009-05-26 07:38
By Daniel Chan(HK Edition)
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HONG KONG: Two siblings, who flew back to Hong Kong on Sunday from a trip to New York, have been confirmed to be infected with A (H1N1) flu, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the city to nine, a health official said last night.
Centre for Health Protection Controller Thomas Tsang said a boy, aged four, and his sister, aged one-and-a-half, travelled to the US with their parents on May 7 and spent most of their time in New York.
The mother reported the siblings as having running nose during the direct New York-to-Hong Kong flight, but the kids passed through temperature screening at the airport, Tsang said.
From the airport, the family took an express train between 2 pm and 4 pm last Sunday to Central, and then took a taxi home to Cavendish Height in Jardine's Lookout.
Early yesterday morning, the mother took the siblings to a clinic in Repulse Bay where staff immediately referred them to Queen Mary Hospital where the children were admitted and tests confirmed they were stricken with the flu.
Tsang said the siblings were all in stable condition at Princess Margaret Hospital and their parents and the family's domestic helper have been sent to the same hospital for tests.
Tamiflu has also been prescribed to the doctor and receptionist at the Repulse Bay clinic where the siblings were first brought to, he added.
The mother reported that no other patient was at the clinic at the time of their visit.
Health authorities are tracking down 50 passengers who sat close to the siblings during the flight back to Hong Kong.
They are checking if they provided accurate information in health declaration forms upon their arrival to the city.
Tsang also appealed to the two taxi drivers, who brought the siblings and their mother to the Repulse Bay Clinic and Queen Mary Hospital, to report to health authorities for a proper check-up.
He said the Mass Transit Railway Corp, which operates airport express trains, has also been informed of the case.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Food and Health York Chow urged travelers entering Hong Kong to provide authorities with accurate health information. Failure to do so could lead to prosecution.
Chow made the comment with the disclosure that the city's 7th confirmed human swine flu victim, a 21-year-old woman traveling from the United States via Seoul, did not report any flu symptoms on her health declaration, though she already was suffering a sore throat.
Chow said the government is seeking legal advice on whether to take legal action against the patient.
"We can take the action if the Centre for Health Protection has sufficient evidence," Chow said. "But I understand that sometimes tourists are not intentionally hiding their health information."
Chow hoped travelers will understand the importance of providing accurate information.
"I hope they can understand that they can report their problem earlier (if they have symptoms). They should not only fill in the forms, but also inform the cabin crew. This allows us to take care of them earlier and have medical checks," he said.
The patient took a public bus from the airport, then got aboard a minibus. Chow said other passengers traveling on the same buses will not be regarded as having close contact with her because the time of their exposure was short.
Solicitor Billy Ma Wah-yan said those who provide false information on the health declaration form may be subject to fines and imprisonment of up to six months.
Ma said the general public may not have sufficient legal knowledge to realize the seriousness of the consequences and urged the government to strengthen public education.
"For example, a clear explanation on the legal consequences should be printed clearly on the form," he said.
(HK Edition 05/26/2009 page1)