Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP investigates first imported chikungunya fever case in Hong Kong this year
The case involved a 12-year-old boy with good past health living in Kwun Tong. He developed fever, rash and joint pain since July 31 and sought medical attention from a private doctor on the same day. Despite the symptoms are mild, he was referred to the Accident and Emergency Department of United Christian Hospital on August 1 due to his recent travel history. He was admitted for treatment in a mosquito-free environment on the same day. The patient is now in stable condition. His blood sample tested positive for CF virus upon laboratory testing.
Initial investigations revealed that the patient travelled to Foshan in Guangdong Province between July 17 and 30, and recalled a history of mosquito bites during the stay. Since the patient stayed in Foshan during the whole incubation period, the CHP considers that the patient was infected during travel, and the case was classified as an imported case. His household contacts (including one travel collateral) are currently asymptomatic and under medical surveillance. The CHP’s epidemiological investigations is ongoing and has reported the case to the health authorities of Guangdong.The abovementioned case is the first imported CF case in Hong Kong this year. From 2016 to 2019, between one and 11 CF cases were recorded in Hong Kong each year, all of which were imported cases.
According to the World Health Organization, CF cases have been recorded in more than 110 countries/regions. As of early June this year, over 220 000 cases had been reported in 14 countries/regions worldwide (including the Mainland, Taiwan and Singapore which are popular tourist destinations for Hong Kong citizens). Of these cases, about 80 were fatal. Moreover, according to the information from the Foshan health authority, as of July 31 there were over 6 900 cases. The majority of cases (5 972 cases) were in Shunde District. All cases were mild, with no severe or fatal cases. As well, confirmed cases were also recorded in other cities in Guangdong Province recently. Regarding Macao, six imported cases and one local case of CF were recorded since mid-July.
“CF is not transmitted from person to person, and is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of female Aedes mosquitoes carrying the CF virus. Eliminating mosquito breeding sites and avoiding mosquito bites are the most effective measures. During the early stage after the onset of symptoms (especially when a fever is present), the blood of patients of CF contains a large amount of virus, which is infectious to mosquitoes. If they are bitten by mosquitoes during the communicable period, further local transmission via mosquitoes is possible. Therefore, avoiding mosquito bites of the patient is an important measure to prevent local transmission,” said the Head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the CHP, Dr Albert Au. Issued at HKT 20:26
NNNN