HONG KONG: A call for calm was sounded yesterday as Hong Kong faced what was described as the near inevitability that human swine flu would be back, perhaps within a month.

News of the first confirmed case of A (H1N1) influenza on the mainland touched off an immediate request yesterday to mainland authorities from the SAR government for flight information concerning the patient so that any persons who were in contact might be intercepted at the border if they come here.

The 30-year-old patient flew from the United States to Chengdu, transiting from Tokyo and Beijing last week.

"As our common practice, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) will obtain related information to see if anyone who took the flights would come to Hong Kong," said CHP controller Thomas Tsang after a Legislative Council's health services panel meeting yesterday.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow added the government would trace those who are likely to pass through the city.

"The risk of Hong Kong will increase when countries, especially those with frequent exchanges, are confirmed with cases ... We cannot avoid cases when the virus is spreading around the globe. It's just a matter of time," he added.

The health chief hopes to intercept cases at the borders. Lawmakers have demanded quarantine aboard flights departing from North America.

Chow replied that the authority asked airlines to notify the government if any passengers feel unwell.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday located all passengers aboard a Northwest Airlines flight upon which there were four confirmed cases of swine flu. Among the 19 passengers who indicated intentions to visit Hong Kong, seven have not arrived in the city. Four first-class passengers who arrived in Hong Kong are under medical surveillance. Eight who flew as economy- class passengers were taken to hospital for seven-day quarantine. Seven have tested negative for A (H1N1) flu and one result is still pending.

Infectious diseases expert Lo Wing-lok who is also a member of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases warned it is highly possible that the H1N1 flu could break out in the community within a month's time.

"The index patient on the mainland reported to the authority directly but perhaps there are more infected people who are reluctant to do the same. These unknown cases are spreading the virus around," he said, adding the virus will brew in the community in the coming three to four weeks.

Lo believes precautionary measures at the borders can not completely thwart the transmission of the virus, citing the latest case reported in Japanese and Hong Kong's only reported case thus far. Both patients were identified only after they crossed the borders since they had not previously given evidence of flu-like symptoms.

As of yesterday, eight people had reported to the CHP to undergo laboratory tests for human swine flu. Results of those tests are still pending.

(HK Edition 05/12/2009 page1)