bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Ng Kang-chung

Hong Kong has recorded two more imported cases of the mosquito-borne viral disease chikungunya involving a man and a woman who had both recently travelled to mainland China.
The latest cases pushed the total number of confirmed infections in the city to 70 so far this year, of which four were locally acquired, the Centre for Health Protection said on Sunday.
The man, 69, lives in Yuen Long. He visited Yunnan province with three other friends between November 9 and 16.
According to preliminary investigations, the man started having joint pains on Thursday and developed a fever two days later.
He went to the accident and emergency department of Pok Oi Hospital and was admitted for treatment. His blood samples subsequently tested positive for the chikungunya virus.
He is now in stable condition, according to the centre.
A family member and his three travel companions are currently asymptomatic and under observation.
The woman, who is 49 years old, lives in Kwai Tsing district. She and three family members visited Zhuhai and Zhongshan in Guangdong province between November 2 and 5.
She developed a fever, joint pain and a rash on Friday and sought help at Princess Margaret Hospital on Saturday. A blood sample tested positive for the virus.
She is in stable condition. Her family members are currently asymptomatic and under observation.
The centre said that as the two patients had visited chikungunya-affected areas during the incubation period, it considered the cases to be travel related.
“The cases are classified as imported. The [centre] will report the cases to the relevant health authorities,” it said.

The centre noted it had recently recorded several imported cases involving residents in Kwai Tsing who had all travelled before they fell ill.
Preliminary investigations found that some patients had been hiking in the area of the Tsing Yi’s Nature Trails before the onset of illness. Genomic sequencing and analysis were being conducted to determine whether the cases were linked.
The centre urged those who had been hiking in the area since November 1 and who subsequently developed symptoms to call the inquiry hotline at 2125 2373, which operates daily from 9am to 8pm.
“The [centre] will assess symptomatic individuals and arrange blood tests if necessary. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing,” it said.
Before August 2, Hong Kong last recorded cases of ­chikungunya in 2019, with the tally reaching 11 patients that year. The city reported two cases in 2018, one in 2017 and eight in 2016. All infections between 2016 and 2019 were imported.
Guangdong has been battling an outbreak since July.
Chikungunya fever is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes, with cases typically developing fever and joint pain. Other potential symptoms include muscle pain, nausea and rashes.


Hongkongers gather on seventh day after Tai Po fire to grieve, pray and demand answers

Hong Kong fire tragedy: bodies of Indonesian helper, woman she cared for found together

How serene backyard Sai Kung in Hong Kong became a fertile ground for independent cafes

Groups warn of bogus donation calls exploiting helpers’ deaths in Hong Kong fire

Hong Kong society

Chikungunya strikes 2 Hong Kong travellers as infection count rises to 70

Chikungunya is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes. Photo: AP

The infected woman visited Zhuhai and Zhongshan (pictured) in Guangdong province. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong’s fourth local chikungunya case unrelated to past 3: health officials

Authorities conduct anti-mosquito operations in Tsing Yi. Photo: Karma Lo

Chikungunya may be spreading silently in Hong Kong, expert says after fourth case

Hong Kong may have silent chains of chikungunya fever transmission in the community, a leading infectious disease expert has warned. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong has been urged to step up mosquito control measures following the fourth local chikungunya case. Photo: Karma Lo

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Man, 69, and woman, 49, had travelled to mainland China, and Centre for Health Protection has classified the cases as imported


Man, 69, and woman, 49, had travelled to mainland China, and Centre for Health Protection has classified the cases as imported.
