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| CHP staff inspecting the environment at the patient’s workplace at the airport. |
A man working at the airport has come down with measles, which was traced to an earlier case also at the airport, promptng the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) to remind members of the public to have themselves vaccinated to prevent the disease, if they have not done so yet.
The CHP has also sent a letter to all doctors in Hong Kong
to inform them of the latest situation regarding measles and urged them to
remain vigilant and report any suspected cases.
At the same time, the CHP has also sent letters to employment agencies and the aviation industry, encouraging unvaccinated foreign domestic helpers and airport staff to receive the measles vaccine to protect their health and prevent the spread of the virus in the community.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
"Measles outbreaks are currently occurring in many
regions around the world. North America (including the United States, Canada
and Mexico) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia, Cambodia and the
Philippines) have seen persistent measles outbreaks in recent years due to low
vaccination coverage rates,” the CHP said.
The latest case involves a 30-year-old male who developed
myalgia (body pain) on April 14; a fever and a sore throat on April 15, and a
rash on April 17. He attended a private clinic in Mong Kok on April 17 due to
persistent symptoms, and was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre for treatment
arranged by the CHP on the same day.
His clinical specimen was tested positive today for the
measles virus. The patient has been isolated for treatment and is in stable
condition.
An epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient
works at the airport. On April 3, he had worked at the same workplace with the
measles case announced on April 6.
As the patient is a close contact of the previous airport
case, the CHP has earlier reminded the organization's medical service provider
to pay attention to the possible occurrence of measles case among the close
contacts.
Thereafter, the organisation's medical service provider
reported the suspected case to the CHP for follow up on April 17. The patient
was uncertain whether he had received measles vaccination. As he lives alone
and had no travel history during the incubation period, the CHP believes the patient was probably infected at the workplace.
During the patient's communicable period (since April 13), in addition to visiting a private clinic on April 17, he worked at the airport from April 13 to 15.
The CHP has been carrying out contact tracing in the
private clinic that the patient had visited and his workplace to identify any
close contacts and high risk individuals.
As of 5pm today, a total of 100 individuals who stayed in
the same clinic with the patient and 162 relevant staff at his workplace were
identified as close contacts.
