Health chief says it's possible more Hongkongers have H7N9 bird flu

Via South China Morning Post, excerpt :

" Food and Health Secretary Dr Ko Wing-man on Thursday did not out the possibility that more Hongkongers might be have the deadly H7N9 virus after a Hong Kong patient came down with the avian flu following a mainland trip.

The patient, a 66-year-old man with no history of consuming or coming in contact with live poultry, was diagnosed with bird flu after “passing by” a wet market in Shenzhen.

The man, who is in critical condition, is in isolation and getting intensive treatment at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam.

“In the past, the virus has been detected in many samples taken from the environment. It means people should be careful when visiting wet markets, especially where live poultry is on sale,” Ko said. “The risk for people who suffer from chronic illness to visit the wet market is also higher.”

Ko noted that the patient with H7N9 was already suffering from long-term illness and required regular hemodialysis, a process for cleansing the blood of toxins.

Ko said experts have warned that the virus could be more active in winter, and believed more cases would emerge around Guangdong province and other southern Chinese regions."