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Vivian Au

Lynn Zhang

Hong Kong is expected to experience an increase in imported chikungunya fever cases, a leading specialist has said, calling on the public to avoid travelling to high-risk areas after the city recorded three more infections.
Dr Joseph Tsang Kay-yan, co-chairman of the Hong Kong Medical Association’s advisory committee on communicable diseases, issued the warning on Thursday, following several days of heavy downpours, which also raised concerns about an increased risk of local transmission.
“Imported cases [of chikungunya fever] are expected to increase steadily,” Tsang told a radio programme, two days after the city experienced its second-longest black rainstorm warning on record.
“Residents should also be responsible and do their best to avoid visiting high-risk areas.”
The disease expert said that since many Hongkongers lived in Guangdong province, where infections were rising, the number of imported cases would increase if people returned to the city for treatment.
Chikungunya fever is spread by mosquito bites, with those infected typically developing fever and joint pain that can last for months or even years. Other potential symptoms include muscle pain, nausea and rashes.

Tsang explained that the heavy rainfall earlier this week could easily bring about stagnant water that favoured mosquito breeding, further increasing the risk of more cases in the city.
Asked whether the possibility of local transmission was now higher, he said mosquito control measures would be key in determining whether the city would see a cluster or a local outbreak.
Besides the government, the public should also share responsibility for preventing the spread of the disease by paying attention to mosquito control measures and avoiding high-risk areas, Tsang said.
Those who had been to high-risk areas were advised to monitor related symptoms and continue to spray mosquito repellent for 14 days after returning to the city.
He said that around 15 to 35 per cent of infected people had mild symptoms in the first seven days of the illness, which might not be easily noticed. If they moved around in the community, there was a chance they could spread the disease.

Tsang also said that those who experienced serious joint pain and fever should seek medical treatment, adding that the disease’s after-effects could last for a few months and some patients might suffer from chronic arthritis.
Following the city’s first imported chikungunya fever case in six years last week, three new cases were confirmed on Wednesday – a woman returning from Foshan in Guangdong, and a father and son who had travelled to Bangladesh.
Health authorities have classified the latter two cases as imported because the father and son spent the entire incubation period in Bangladesh.
The breeding of Aedes albopictus, a type of mosquito that can transmit chikungunya fever and other diseases, in about 70 per cent of the 61 areas under monitoring in July has reached a “fairly extensive” or higher level, according to the latest available data from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.




Higher-risk areas include Ma Wan, Lam Tin, Sau Mau Ping, Yuen Long Town, Kwai Tsing and Sham Shui Po. Experts called on authorities to step up mosquito control measures in these areas after the torrential rains.
Residents of Lei Tung Estate, located in Ap Lei Chau, one of the 61 monitored areas, said they were not too worried about the disease and would take steps to protect themselves.
At the entrance of the bustling Lei Tung Shopping Centre, members of the Southern District Care Team were spotted distributing leaflets that explained how to eliminate stagnant water and prevent mosquitoes. They also handed out mosquito repellent patches earlier in the day.
“We are not too worried about the confirmed chikungunya case because the community’s preventive measures are very thorough,” said a 70-year-old retiree, surnamed Ng.
She also said that she had already applied mosquito repellent and urged other residents to take care of their health. Ng and her neighbours were also engaging with community workers to help raise awareness about mosquito control measures.
Library assistant Ng Chun-ming, 21, said: “Even though I often get bitten by mosquitoes, I’m not really worried ... maybe I don’t have enough knowledge about [chikungunya] fever.”
Care team member Lisa Cheng, 76, said that some pest control measures had been implemented on Thursday.
Further measures are scheduled to be carried out on August 8, 18 and 29, but will be postponed if it rains.


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News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Dr Joseph Tsang flags high-risk areas, while Lei Tung Estate residents say they are not too worried as preventive measures are ‘thorough’


Dr Joseph Tsang flags high-risk areas, while Lei Tung Estate residents say they are not too worried as preventive measures are ‘thorough’.


Imported chikungunya cases will rise steadily in Hong Kong, leading expert warns

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Dr Joseph Tsang flags high-risk areas, while Lei Tung Estate residents say they are not too worried as preventive measures are ‘thorough’

Dr Joseph Tsang flags high-risk areas, while Lei Tung Estate residents say they are not too worried as preventive measures are ‘thorough’