State and federal officials are on the alert for a new bird flu virus that has infected at least 14 people and killed six in China after they suffered severe respiratory illnesses.
"It’s making sure all our systems are in place. … Everyone is on alert mode," state Epidemiologist Sarah Y. Park said last week.
Park said there have been no reports of anyone entering Hawaii or any other part of the United States with symptoms of the H7N9 bird flu virus.
"Hopefully, it stays that way," she said.
The danger with H7N9 lies in human beings having no immunity to it, as well as the lack of a vaccine, officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said that as of Thursday the 14 Chinese cases included six from Shanghai, one from Anhui province, four from Jiangsu province and three from Zhejiang province.
Chinese authorities have slaughtered tens of thousands of birds to contain the disease.
The CDC said all 14 people started showing symptoms of the illness between Feb. 19 and March 31.
Center officials said that although the investigation into the H7N9 bird flu virus continues, there is no evidence the illnesses were transmitted from one human being to another.
A 1918-1919 flu pandemic with the virus capable of being transmitted from one human being to another resulted in an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide, according to the CDC.
Park said that under federal law, flight crews are required to notify U.S. ports if a traveler onboard becomes ill.
Park said state and federal officials have a system in place to collect a throat swab from a flight passenger who has an illness, including a cough or sore throat, and to find out where they have traveled.
The swab would be sent to the CDC to determine whether it is the H7N9 bird flu virus.
