Chairman’s Announcement (21 October 2004)

Travellers should be vigilant against avian flu

The Department of Health (DH) today reminded travellers to avoid contact with live poultry, birds, animals and their droppings when visiting countries where avian influenza was detected.

The advice was made in view of a number of tigers in a zoo in a regional country had died of suspected avian flu recently.

For prevention of avian flu in Hong Kong, DH has arranged with airlines to broadcast on flights from places with avian influenza health messages advising passengers with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat to approach medical posts at the airport for assistance.

Health messages on avian flu have also been broadcast more frequently at the airport.

There have been no H5N1 isolates identified in Hong Kong in 2004.

As a general guideline of good hygiene practices, you should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching live poultry, birds, or animals.

Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating.

Staff and students who develop influenza-like illnesses are also urged to seek medical consultations promptly.  They should also reveal their recent travel history to the attending doctors.

Chairman’s Announcement (14 Oct 2004)

H5 influenza infection update

The Campus SARS/Flu Task Force would like to update you on the latest situation regarding human cases of avian influenza H5N1 in Thailand. On 28 September 2004, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has confirmed two new cases of H5N1 avian influenza in humans, which were associated with a family cluster which had contact with dead chickens. While investigation of this family cluster provided evidence that human-to-human transmission may have occurred, evidence to date indicated that transmission of the virus among humans has been limited to family members and that no wider transmission in the community has occurred.

Studies by the Department of Health, Hong Kong, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA found evidence of inefficient human-to-human transmission during the H5N1 outbreak in Hong Kong (1997). Human-to-human transmission of the virus was uncommon.

Since January this year, there were 15 confirmed avian influenza cases reported in Thailand, causing 10 deaths. The majority of them (9 cases) were located in central part of Thailand, while 3 cases were reported in northern part and 3 cases were reported in north-eastern part. There were also 27 confirmed cases reported in Vietnam, leading to 20 deaths. Most of the cases were located in northern (13 cases) and southern (13 cases) regions in Vietnam.

The initial clinical presentation of avian influenza A H5N1 may be indistinguishable from human influenza. However, about 60% of patients developed viral pneumonia, and some patients ran a rapid downhill course. If you suffer from signs of pneumonia or flu-like illness within 7 days returning from countries reporting recent cases of avian influenza (e.g. Thailand, Vietnam), please report to your doctor including history of exposure to poultry, as well as contact with persons suffering from influenza symptoms.

If you are going to areas where avian flu was detected, you should avoid direct contact with poultry and birds. If contacts have been made, you should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Please also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to prevent avian flu.       

University Health Service (UHS) had conducted talks on Infection Control to the Hostel Management, workers and kitchen staff in August/September.  A booklet on Infection Control and has also been distributed to all hostel management offices for easy reference.  For details of the booklet, please visit http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/uhs/dochtml/guidelines_ppt.ppt . 

In view of the expected arrival of the influenza season, a new round of Influenza Vaccination Campaign is being organized by UHS on Oct 14 and 15, 2004 for staff and students.    The vaccination is available at the UHS at HK$60 per dose.  Please visit http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/uhs/dochtml/influenza_poster.doc.