The Hong Kong government has confirmed it’s first human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in a Indonesian domestic worker who traveled to Shenzhen last month.

According to Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man, the 36-year-old Indonesian national fell ill on November 21 and was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on November 27. She was transferred to Queen Mary Hospital on November 30. She is currently in critical condition.

Dr Ko Wing-man told the media that the woman was in contact with poultry while in Shenzhen.

Her close contacts have minor symptoms and are being isolated in Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dr Ko said the Government has raised the response level from ‘alert’ to ‘serious’ under its preparedness plan for influenza pandemic, and the Centre for Health Protection is looking for the patient’s friend who traveled with her to Shenzhen.

The Government has suspended the import of live chickens from three Shenzhen farms, and has notified Mainland authorities and the World Health Organisation about the case.

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