Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09GUANGZHOU6
2009-01-05 07:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:
INFANT CONTRACTS H9N2 AVIAN FLU IN SHENZHEN, HOSPITALIZED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGZ #0006 0050725 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 050725Z JAN 09 FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0087 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0031 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0010 INFO RUEHGZ/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE 0038 RUEHGZ/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0038 RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC 0038 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC 0005 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP/ISA/AP// 0002 RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5// RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5// 0005 RHEFAFM/DIRNCMI FT DETRICK MD//MA-1A//
UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000006
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, MED, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
CDC FOR OGHA AND DIV-FLU
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP
HHS PASS TO FIC/NIH
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE AND RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC SOCI PREL HK CH
SUBJECT: INFANT CONTRACTS H9N2 AVIAN FLU IN SHENZHEN, HOSPITALIZED
IN HONG KONG
UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000006
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, MED, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
CDC FOR OGHA AND DIV-FLU
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP
HHS PASS TO FIC/NIH
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE AND RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC SOCI PREL HK CH
SUBJECT: INFANT CONTRACTS H9N2 AVIAN FLU IN SHENZHEN, HOSPITALIZED
IN HONG KONG
1. Summary: An eleven-week old girl who resides in Shenzhen has
reportedly contracted the H9N2 strain of avian influenza (AI). She
is being treated in a Hong Kong hospital. Some medical experts have
expressed concern that the H9N2 virus, which is less virulent than
H5N1, may have mutated because the girl did not initially exhibit a
fever. Shenzhen officials are investigating the source of the
infection, but have not yet released any findings. End summary.
2. According to media reports, an eleven-week old girl living in
Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, contracted the H9N2 strain of AI and
is now being treated at Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong. The girl
was born in Hong Kong, and her parents took her to Tuen Mun Hospital
there on December 22 after she exhibited coughing and vomiting.
Because she had no fever, the hospital did not suspect AI after her
first admission. She was discharged the next day and returned with
her parents to Shenzhen. Her parents took her back to Tuen Mun
Hospital on December 29, after which blood tests determined she was
infected with H9N2, which is less virulent than the H5N1 strain.
Media reports indicate she is in stable condition, but still has an
elevated white blood cell count, which doctors suspect may be due to
causes other than the AI infection. They are testing her for
leukemia.
3. Medical experts are reportedly concerned that the H9N2 virus may
have mutated because the girl did not initially develop a fever.
Hong Kong and Guangdong health officials have been in contact with
each other to speed investigation of the infection source.
4. Shenzhen officials have sent a team to investigate the
residential area in Shenzhen's Nansha District, where the patient
lived, and indicated they would release an update when more
information is available. They advised local residents to reduce
contact with live poultry. The patient's doctor in Hong Kong told
reporters that the family did not raise chickens and that other
members of the family have not displayed any symptoms of the virus.
5. This cable was coordinated with Embassy Beijing and Consulate
General Hong Kong.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
STATE FOR EAP/CM, OES/IHA, MED, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE AND GH
CDC FOR OGHA AND DIV-FLU
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA/AP
HHS PASS TO FIC/NIH
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC, USAID
BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE AND RMO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU CASC SOCI PREL HK CH
SUBJECT: INFANT CONTRACTS H9N2 AVIAN FLU IN SHENZHEN, HOSPITALIZED
IN HONG KONG
1. Summary: An eleven-week old girl who resides in Shenzhen has
reportedly contracted the H9N2 strain of avian influenza (AI). She
is being treated in a Hong Kong hospital. Some medical experts have
expressed concern that the H9N2 virus, which is less virulent than
H5N1, may have mutated because the girl did not initially exhibit a
fever. Shenzhen officials are investigating the source of the
infection, but have not yet released any findings. End summary.
2. According to media reports, an eleven-week old girl living in
Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, contracted the H9N2 strain of AI and
is now being treated at Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong. The girl
was born in Hong Kong, and her parents took her to Tuen Mun Hospital
there on December 22 after she exhibited coughing and vomiting.
Because she had no fever, the hospital did not suspect AI after her
first admission. She was discharged the next day and returned with
her parents to Shenzhen. Her parents took her back to Tuen Mun
Hospital on December 29, after which blood tests determined she was
infected with H9N2, which is less virulent than the H5N1 strain.
Media reports indicate she is in stable condition, but still has an
elevated white blood cell count, which doctors suspect may be due to
causes other than the AI infection. They are testing her for
leukemia.
3. Medical experts are reportedly concerned that the H9N2 virus may
have mutated because the girl did not initially develop a fever.
Hong Kong and Guangdong health officials have been in contact with
each other to speed investigation of the infection source.
4. Shenzhen officials have sent a team to investigate the
residential area in Shenzhen's Nansha District, where the patient
lived, and indicated they would release an update when more
information is available. They advised local residents to reduce
contact with live poultry. The patient's doctor in Hong Kong told
reporters that the family did not raise chickens and that other
members of the family have not displayed any symptoms of the virus.
5. This cable was coordinated with Embassy Beijing and Consulate
General Hong Kong.
GOLDBERG