By Stephanie Brown
Health officials in Hong Kong confirmed latest case of bird flu
Hong Kong – Government officials confirmed the re-emergence of bird flu and its first human case since 2003.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health in Hong Kong have also confirmed in a statement released yesterday that a 59-year-old woman was infected of bird flu. The woman, came from a trip to mainland China and was initially hospitalized due to pneumonia and was later on found out to have been infected by the bird flu. However, it was not yet determined where the virus was acquired.
The confirmation of the latest case of the flu sparked anxiety to the people living in Hong Kong and tourists visiting the country. The Government though assured the public that they have been doing measures to contain a possible outbreak of the deadly virus.
It was also in Hong Kong where bird flu had its major outbreak back in 1997 and the last one was recorded seven years ago in 2003. According to reports, 6 people died from the outbreak in 1997 and has since claimed at least 80 since then. Panic in the country reached its peak when the deadly SARS(short for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus killed some 300 people.
Health officials said they were already conducting inspections at poultry markets and had infection control at hospitals and clinics. Hong Kong government officials though raised their alert level to “serious” meaning that there is a possiblity of an outbreak of the virus.
Department of Health secretary York Chow said that for now this was just an ‘isolated case’. He added that people who came in close contact with the female patient were closely monitored for flu-like symptoms including her 60-year-old husband.
Neighboring asian countries were also now on alert of a possible outbreak including Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines especially to those who have just came from Hong Kong.
