INFLUENZA A (H5N1) IN HONG KONG

Updated: January 19, 1998

Health Canada's Laboratory Centre for Disease Control is closely monitoring the reports of influenza A (H5N1) in humans in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. This strain of influenza was previously known to infect only birds and poultry. To date, 18 cases have been confirmed, 6 deaths have occurred and 1 other case is suspected. For the latest information on the situation in Hong Kong, please consult the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Department of Health.

The Hong Kong Department of Health, the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating these cases. To date, there has been no documented evidence of person-to-person spread nor is there any indication that there has been an increase in cases of acute respiratory illness in the Hong Kong population. There have been no reports of other human cases of H5N1 from anywhere else in the world.

Current influenza vaccines do not provide protection against this strain, and no H5N1 vaccine is available at this time. The World Health Organization has initiated laboratory work in its Influenza Collaborating Centres to develop a suitable candidate for vaccine production, if required. However, this strain has been shown to be sensitive to the antiviral drug amantadine. This drug is effective against virtually all human and animal strains of influenza type A.

It is important to note that the current number of identified clinical cases of influenza A (H5N1) is very small, despite a very intensive search for additional cases. However, many questions regarding the potential for this strain to become more widespread remain unanswered. Therefore, the risk to persons travelling to or visiting Hong Kong cannot be determined with certainty at this time, and the risk may change over time as more information becomes available.

Nevertheless, as a precaution, travellers to Hong Kong should avoid unnecessary contact with live poultry. Since there are other human influenza strains currently circulating in Hong Kong, travellers at high risk of complications from influenza infection should consider vaccination with the currently available flu vaccine prior to travelling to Hong Kong.