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HK confirms two more H1N1 flu patients

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-24 08:55

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong health authority on Saturday confirmed a woman and a man tested positive for A (H1N1) flu virus, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases in the city to six.

Both patients arrived in Hong Kong late Friday from the United States and they were sent to hospital from the airport after thermal scanning detected them running a fever, said Thomas Tsang, controller of the Center for Health Protection.

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According to Tsang, the female patient, a 20-year-old student in New York, arrived in Hong Kong aboard flight CX 831. She was sitting in Row 31, wearing a facial mask throughout her journey to Hong Kong.

The other patient was a 53-year-old man from China's mainland. He put on a mask after developing a sore throat on flight UA 839 from San Francisco.

Laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from the two patients yielded positive results for A/H1N1 influenza virus on Saturday, Tsang said.

Tsang called on travelers who took the flights and arrived in Hong Kong on May 22 to call the hotline to facilitate the health authority's surveillance of their health condition.

Investigations into the cases continues.

Tsang said as the summer vacation is near more students are expected to return to Hong Kong and more imported cases of infection may emerge as a result.

He called on parents to advise their children studying overseas and having influenza symptoms or fever not to travel until recovery.