 |
| Rashes are a common symptom (CHP photo) |
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has urged people to be vigilant against Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) after reporting the latest case of the disease.
It has set up an Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373), which operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding public holiday to receive calls from those who suspect or are concerned that they may have had high-risk contact with confirmed cases, particularly men who have sex with men or with strangers.
“Persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes,
fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe
headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical
attention and receive treatment at once,” it said.
 |
| Basahin ang detalye! |
HP reported that the latest Mpox case involves a 33-year-old
male with good past health who developed rashes and lymphadenopathy (swollen
lymph nodes) on April 22, and attended the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene
Clinic of the DH on April 25. “He is in stable condition, and is being arranged
for treatment and isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital,” it added.
A preliminary investigation revealed that he did not receive
Mpox vaccination and had a history of high-risk exposure in Hong Kong.
“No epidemiological linkages have been established between
this case and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong. The CHP
is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and will report
the case to the World Health Organization,” CHP said.
CHP reminded high-risk target groups to receive Mpox
vaccinations to lower the risk of infection or the possibility of having more
severe symptoms.
“Members of the public should maintain good personal and
hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They
should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of
being infected,” CHP said.
The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox
vaccinations on a voluntary basis:
- Individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
- Healthcare workers responsible for caring for patients with confirmed Mpox;
- Laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
- Animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in case of Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.
The high-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in
vaccinations at any of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely
Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male
SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen
Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.
Meantime, the DH's
Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special
Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also
provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.
For more details, please visit the CHP's page on Mpox (https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105683.html) and
Mpox Vaccination Programme (https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106090.html).
