The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that as of yesterday (Aug. 12) at 5 pm, one new imported case of Chikungunya fever has been recorded. Environmental Hygiene Department personnel sprayed insect repellent and applied mosquito powder in the area of the male patient's residence in Kwai Chung this morning. The CHP reminds the public to always pay attention to environmental hygiene and take mosquito prevention and personal protection measures, whether at home or while traveling. If infection with Chikungunya fever is suspected, individuals should seek medical attention immediately and not conduct self-testing to avoid delaying treatment.
The new case involves a 31-year-old man residing in the Kwai Tsing District, who was previously in good health. Preliminary investigations indicate that he traveled to Foshan, Guangdong Province, from August 1 to 3, but it has not been confirmed whether he was bitten by mosquitoes during that time. After returning to Hong Kong, he developed a fever, rash, and joint pain starting on August 8. He visited Shenzhen on August 9 and sought medical attention at a local hospital the following day, where he was not required to be hospitalized and returned to Hong Kong on the same day. On Monday (Aug. 11), he sought treatment at the emergency room of Yan Chai Hospital and was admitted for treatment in a mosquito-free environment. His condition is currently stable, and his blood sample tested positive for the Chikungunya virus.
Since the patient's incubation period was spent in Foshan, the CHP believes he was infected during his travels, categorizing this as an imported case. The patient did not have any travel companions, and his household contacts are currently asymptomatic and under medical surveillance. The CHP will continue to conduct epidemiological investigations and has reported the case to the Guangdong Provincial Healthcare Security Administration.
A total of six confirmed cases of Chikungunya fever have been recorded in Hong Kong this year, all of which are imported cases, along with one possible case.
Edwin Tsui, Director of the Centre for Health Protection, reminds the public that there are currently no rapid test products certified by international health authorities available for self-testing of Chikungunya fever. If infection is suspected, individuals should seek medical attention immediately and not conduct self-testing to avoid delaying treatment. The public should also refrain from self-medicating, especially with aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen), as these medications may cause severe side effects, including an increased risk of bleeding. Generally, children should not take medications containing aspirin to relieve fever and other symptoms to prevent Reye's syndrome, a serious and potentially fatal complication.
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