The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health report a locally acquired case of chikungunya fever (CF).
The case involves a 55-year-old woman who lives on Li Tak Street in Tai Kok Tsui. Preliminary investigation revealed that she developed a fever, headache, and pain in her fingers and wrists joints on September 7, followed by a rash on her face and body. She sought medical attention at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on September 16, and was admitted on the same day for treatment in a mosquito-free environment. She is currently in stable condition. Her blood sample tested positive for chikungunya upon laboratory testing by the CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch.
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Preliminary investigation also revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period (August 26 to September 5), and the case was classified as a local case. She remained at home for most of the incubation period and frequently had activities in the vicinity of her residence. To the best of her recollection, she had mosquito bites at her residence and in the areas around Cherry Street Park and Lok Kwan Street Park. She has a household contact who remains asymptomatic to date. The CHP has implemented prevention and control measures according to epidemiological investigations and risk assessment, including providing medical surveillance and health advice to her household contact. If necessary, the CHP will arrange for laboratory testing. The epidemiological investigation is ongoing.
Taking into account the above case, Hong Kong has recorded three confirmed CF cases this year to date, including one local case and two imported cases. Last year, 82 confirmed CF cases were recorded, including 11 local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
