Hong Kong: A cargo crew member was initially diagnosed with COVID-19, suspected of carrying a variant of the Omicron virus strain

On December 16, the Hong Kong SAR Government website issued a press release saying that the Centre for Health Protection (hereinafter referred to as the Centre) of the Hong Kong Department of Health said today that it was investigating a preliminarily confirmed imported case of new crown pneumonia involving a mutated virus strain.

The case concerned a 36-year-old male patient, a local cargo aircraft crew member, living in The Xiangxing Building, 44-48 Bi Street, Yau Ma Tei. He tested negative in Hong Kong on 9 December and left Hong Kong for the United States on 11 December, returning to Hong Kong on 13 December via flight CX2071. Upon arrival, the patient tested negative for COVID-19 when samples were taken at the Temporary Sample Collection Centre at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Subsequently, the patient is subjected to medical surveillance and regular mandatory testing in accordance with the relevant exempt person regulations. According to the information provided by the patient, he stayed at home at all other times except yesterday (15 December) when he briefly bought food in the community and went to a mobile sampling station to take samples for testing.

The patient's sample taken yesterday was initially positive, developed symptoms on the same day, had a Ct value of about 25 to 29, and confirmed that it had a variant of the N501Y virus strain (L452R and E484K were negative). He received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (Fubitai) in Hong Kong on 22 March and 15 April.

According to the World Health Organization, the Omicron variant virus strain has a variety of spike protein gene variants, the results of the test results of the Public Health Laboratory Service of the Department of Health show that the patient's sample spike protein gene involves the T478K mutation, according to the detection characteristics of the Omicron variant virus strain, N501Y and T478K belong to the target of two of the test Omicron variant virus strains, so the center now suspects that the patient has an Omicron variant virus strain. However, whole genome sequencing analysis is still required to confirm whether the patient has a variant of the Omicron strain.

As the patient carries a mutated strain of the virus, which is at higher risk of contagion and infection, the Government will make a declaration tonight that the patient will be restricted and tested in the building where the patient lives in Hong Kong (Yau Ma Tei Cheung Hing Building). At the same time, the locations he visits in Hong Kong during the incubation period will also be included in the mandatory testing announcement. Any person who has been in the above-mentioned places during the designated period must undergo compulsory testing on the specified date. Epidemiological investigation and case tracing of cases is still ongoing.

A spokesman for the CFS said: "The Government has been closely monitoring the latest scientific data on the mutated virus strain, monitoring the outbreak in different areas, and will take the strictest anti-epidemic measures to prevent the mutant virus strain from flowing into the local community." ”

Source: Interface News