70 Suspected Cases in HK - Event Date: June 20 2006

In view of a human case of avian influenza H5N1 in Shenzhen, the Hospital Authority (HA) started the three-week Enhanced Surveillance Programme from June 15, 2006.

Public hospitals should report to the Authority's e-Flu system all patients fulfilling the case definition of having pneumonia (all types) of unidentified etiology and who had travelled in the seven days before the onset of symptoms, to affected areas/ countries with confirmed human cases of avian influenza infection in the past six months.

HA today (June 20) received the report of a total of 14 cases (8  male,  6  female, aged 2.5- month to 85).  So far a total of 70 cases (39 male, 31 female, aged 2.5-month to 89) have been received.  These patients have visited Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Fujian and Zhejiang before the onset of symptoms.  HA has reported the cases to the Centre for Health Protection.  Public hospitals are providing rapid tests for these patients.

Ends/Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:35

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Hong Kong has a good surveillance program. This program started 5 days ago and they now have 70 cases of pnuemonia. Follow your own common sense and remember the govt has said each city and state are on their own. Hospitals are not going to be able to cope with these infections esp since healthcare workers will be coming down with it also. Follow your own common sense and apply logic. STAY FOCUSED AND IN REALITY. This is what you are prepping for.