HK confirms first human case of H7N9 bird flu

HONG KONG - Hong Kong confirmed on Monday its first case of H7N9 bird flu as a 36-year-old Indonesian domestic helper has been hospitalized in critical condition.

Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man said that the patient had contact with poultry while traveling to Shenzhen.

Ko said close contacts of the patient have been sent to hospital, and among them four family members have disease signs. All of them will be examed as soon as possible, Ko said.

P.L. Ho, president of the Center of Infection, University of Hong Kong, believed it is an individual imported case and temporarily H7N9 has not been found to spread man-to-man easily.