Influenza A(H9N2) in Hong Kong SpecialAdministrative Region of China (SAR)

10 December 2003

Disease Outbreak Reported

On 9 December, WHO was informed that tests carriedout by the Department of Health Public Health Laboratory Centre,Hong Kong SAR identified influenza A(H9N2) virus (avian influenzavirus) in a 5-year old boy in Hong Kong SAR. The boy recoveredafter treatment in hospital and has now been discharged.

Geneticsequencing is being carried out to confirm the identity of thevirus. This is the second time H9N2 viruses have been isolated fromhumans in Hong Kong SAR. The last case occurred in 1999.

Hong Kong SAR has a comprehensive influenzasurveillance system to alert health authorities of any avianinfluenza in the environment. The medical community has beencontacted and health education messages distributed tokindergartens and schools.

中国香港特别行政区发现A型流感病毒（Ｈ9Ｎ2）感染病例12月9日世界卫生组织接到报告称，香港特区卫生署的公共卫生实验中心通过实验确诊了一名5岁男童感染了A型流感病毒（Ｈ9Ｎ2）（禽流感病毒）。该名男童经入院治疗后现已康复出院。

正在进行的病毒基因排序工作可以对该流感病毒做出进一步的确认。这是香港特区第二次从人身上分离出Ｈ9Ｎ2流感病毒。上一次发现该病毒是在1999年。

香港有完善的流感监测系统，卫生当局能及时掌握禽流感病毒的流行情况。医疗部门已收到关于禽流感的警报，预防流感的宣传材料也被分送到各幼儿园和学校。

                                （WHOOUTBREAK NEWS 10 Dec 2003 吕智军 译  秦琳 校）