Useful Information

29 January 2004

Dear Doctor,

Amendment to the Quarantine and Prevention of
Disease Ordinance, Cap. 141

H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks among poultry have recently been reported in several Asian countries including Cambodia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the Mainland. Since 13 January 2004, two neighbouring countries have reported human cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza A (H5N1) infection. As of 28 January, Vietnam has reported eight cases including six deaths and Thailand has reported three cases including two deaths. Locally, there was one outbreak of influenza A (H5N1) in 1997 with 18 people affected, of whom six died; and in February 2003, two imported cases were detected and one of them died.

In view of the recent widespread avian influenza infections among poultry in neighbouring areas as well as confirmed human cases in Vietnam and Thailand, there is an urgent need to strengthen the surveillance of Influenza A (H5) and to better prepare for the implementation of public health control measures locally. The Director of Health issued an Order today (29 January 2004) to amend the First Schedule to the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 141) by adding Influenza A (H5) to the list of infectious diseases specified in that Schedule. Another Order to add this disease to the notification form i.e. Form 2 of the Schedule to the Prevention of the Spread of Infectious Diseases Regulations (Cap. 141 sub. leg. B) has also been issued as a consequence of the inclusion of this disease in the list of statutory notifiable diseases. The two Orders will come into operation on 30 January 2004 upon gazettal.

Case definition for Influenza A (H5)
A person with
• positive viral culture for Influenza A (H5), OR
• positive Polymerase Chain Reaction for Influenza A (H5), OR
• a ≥4-fold rise in H5 specific antibody titre

Criteria for reporting:

1. person with acute respiratory illness, characterized by fever (temperature) area known to have outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), OR
   • worked in a laboratory that is processing samples from persons or animals that are suspected from HPAI infection

   OR

2. person with severe pneumonia caused by Influenza A (e.g. Directigen test positive for Influenza A) AND had contact with live birds / poultry within 1 week before onset of illness

Attached please find a revised notification form for reporting infectious disease. The form can also be downloaded from Department of Health's website ( http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/notification/13/33.html ).