# 6014
Not entirely unexpectedly, the 48 year-old woman Hong Kong authorities were testing yesterday for possible H5N1 infection (see Hong Kong: Tracing Contacts Of H5 Positive Bird) after touching a sick bird has tested negative for the virus.
As a precaution, she and her 11-year old son were both put into isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital after her contact with the sick bird at a local secondary school, and then both reported experiencing flu-like symptoms.
As I pointed out yesterday, this is cold & flu season, and that there are other common viral illnesses that could produce similar symptoms.
Today the Hong Kong Government has issued this press release regarding her test results:
Woman tests negative for H5 avian flu virus
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (December 16) that the specimen taken from a 48-year-old woman who touched a sick bird had yielded negative results for influenza A virus with all subtypes, including H5, by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
The woman picked up the sick bird with her bare hands and without wearing a face mask on December 13. The bird later died and tested positive for H5 avian influenza virus. The woman developed fever, sore throat and diarrhoea on December 14. She was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) yesterday for isolation and laboratory testing. Tests on her specimen taken yesterday yielded negative results for influenza A virus with all subtypes by PCR.
Tests for other viruses are being done by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB).
PHLSB is now proceeding with tests of the specimen taken from the woman's 11-year-old son; results are pending. Her son was also admitted to PMH yesterday for isolation and laboratory test as a precautionary measure. He had recovered from fever and cough earlier this week.
CHP's investigation continues.
Ends/Friday, December 16, 2011
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