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| Travel to affected areas is common cause of chikungunya cases (CHP graphic) |
Hong Kong today reported its first case of chikungunya fever
in the last six years, prompting a territory-wide alert in which public
hospitals will reserve beds for patients and inquire of all persons complaining
of symptoms whether they have visited places with confirmed cases, and whether
they have been bitten by mosquitoes.
The Hospital Authority said it is taking the imported case
of chikungunya fever in Hong Kong very seriously. The last period when the disease
entered Hong Kong was from 2016 to 2019, when one to 11 cases were recorded each
year, all of them imported.
"The HA Infectious Disease Centre and other public
hospitals have reserved beds to receive patients. The HA will maintain loop close communication
with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) to monitor the situation, and can
mobilize more beds and manpower to care for patients when necessary. The HA
also has sufficient antipyretic and related medicines to treat patients in
need," it added.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health reported that the first case involved a 12-year-old boy with good past health living in Kwun Tong and who travelled to the Mainland recently.
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 being mild, he was referred to the
Accident and Emergency Department of United Christian Hospital on August 1 due
to his recent travel history. 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 having
been bitten by mosquitoes. 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.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
His household contacts (including one travel collateral) are
currently asymptomatic and under medical surveillance. The CHP's
epidemiological investigations are ongoing and has reported the case to the health
authorities of Guangdong.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has
conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations and
will intensify mosquito prevention and control measures at the residence of the
patient, as well as locations visited after the onset of symptoms.
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, the
CHP report said.
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.
Confirmed cases were also recorded in other cities in
Guangdong Province recently. Macao also had six imported cases and one local
case 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.
Severe or fatal cases caused by CF are rare and the symptoms are milder than that of Dengue Fever, and most patients recover on their own, as local mosquitoes have not carried the CF virus.
Despite this, the Government
strives to prevent CF from becoming endemic in Hong Kong, and has adopted
multi-pronged emergency preparedness, including strengthening public education
and publicity, stepping up control measures at boundary control points,
enhancing local testing capabilities, arranging mosquito-free environment for
treatments, conducting epidemiological investigations and risk assessments for
confirmed cases, intensifying mosquito prevention and control measures.
The FEHD appealed to the public to continue to stay alert
and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early,
including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding
grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing
water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly
disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes.
