New bird flu test in Hong Kong markets as human infections soar in mainland China
Four H7 cases and two deaths in city so far this winter, but hundreds more across border
A new bird flu test will be conducted in the city’s wet markets in an attempt to tighten surveillance of the virus amid a spike in human infections in mainland China.
The number of human cases of H7 on the mainland this winter had reached 364 by Tuesday. That surpassed the usual 200 or so cases reported in the past few years, Dr Wong Ka-hing, controller of the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong, said on Wednesday.
Four human cases, including two fatalities, have been reported in the city so far – all had travelled to the mainland.
“The peak of this wave has become more severe than in the past and the health authority remains very concerned about the situation,” Wong said.
“Since many of these human cases took place in Guangdong, neighbouring Hong Kong, the chances of the city seeing sporadic cases are rather large.”
