HONG KONG health officials confirmed yesterday afternoon  (Mar 20) a human case of H9N2 infection, a mild form of avian influenza, the first of its kind in the territory in the past three years.

At a press briefing yesterday, Thomas Tsang, the controller of Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health, said a 9-month-old baby girl has been confirmed with H9N2 bird flu influenza.

Tsang said the infant, who lives in Tseung Kwan O of the New Territories, showed symptoms of fever beginning March 4 and was hospitalized March 6. She recovered March 9 and her parents and grandmother did not show any symptoms of avian influenza.

Preliminary tests revealed the baby girl was infected with the H9N2 strain of the avian influenza.

Tsang said the baby had never been outside Hong Kong but her family once took her to a poultry market.

The infant is currently under medical observation in Princess Margaret Hospital and the health authority has conducted blood tests on her family members.

Tsang said further tests will be carried out and the results will be released next week.

He added the Hong Kong health authority had notified the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health about the H9N2 avian influenza case.

Editor: Wing