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Hong Kong has recorded a new locally acquired case of chikungunya fever, involving a 45-year-old man who did not have any travel history within the incubation period, bringing the case count to three in nine days. The man, who lives in Mount Haven in Tsing Yi and works in Sheung Wan, tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus when he attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital last Saturday. He had developed chills, joint pain and a rash last Thursday, seeking medical attention from a private doctor two days later. An investigation revealed that he did not have any travel history in the preceding three months, including the incubation period, which lasts around two to 12 days prior to onset. It was also noted that he did not visit Wong Tai Sin during the incubation period, where the other two locally acquired cases were found. However, there was an overlap with where he lived and activity registered from imported cases. “As for this housing complex [Mount Haven], we know there were previous imported cases, but there’s a distance between those blocks and where the new patient lives – so we believe they may not be related,” Albert Au, head of the CHP’s Communicable Disease Branch, said according to RTHK on Monday. The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) therefore classified the case as local, and the CHP will carry out genome analysis to ascertain whether it has links to other imported cases, according to the CHP’s statement on Monday. 55 confirmed cases The city has recorded a total of 55 confirmed cases of chikungunya fever as of 5pm on Monday, three cases are locally acquired and the rest are imported cases. According to the CHP website, symptoms of the mosquito-borne virus include fever and joint pain, with other common signs such as muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. There is no antiviral drug treatment available – preventative measures, such as using repellent, are best. The CHP, together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), have inspected locations near Mount Haven, as well as conducted vector investigations and mosquito control operations to minimise the risk of transmission. The CHP has provided medical surveillance and health advice to five household contacts of the case, or those with common exposure to the source of the infection. None of them have registered any symptoms so far. The CHP will arrange laboratory testing if necessary. Residents living near to Mount Haven in Tsing Yi, Kwai Chung Plaza and Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan are encouraged to seek medical advice or contact the CHP immediately if they have had a fever, rash or joint pain since October 1. The CHP will again issue letters to doctors, hospitals, schools and institutions, providing the latest information on chikungunya fever and reminding them to be vigilant. In addition, the CHP has been hosting a health consultation booth at Kwai Fong Estate, Cheung Hang Estate and Sheung Wan as of Tuesday. The inquiry hotline set up earlier will continue to operate. The CHP has conducted assessments for about 11,000 residents in Fung Tak Estate, Wong Tai Sin, where the previous local cases were located. Among them, 40 blood samples from individuals with mild symptoms have been tested, with 39 testing negative for chikungunya virus as of 5:00 p.m. on Monday.
