Hong Kong health authorities said today (May 16) they are investigating the city's first local human case of rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection this year, involving a 42-year-old man living and working in Hung Hom.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said the patient, who has a history of chronic liver disease, was found to have abnormal liver function during a follow-up consultation at a private hospital on May 5. He was referred to the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital the same day and admitted for further examination.
Laboratory testing later confirmed that his blood sample tested positive for rat hepatitis E virus. The patient remained in stable condition throughout his hospital stay and was discharged on May 15.
The CHP said the man's three household contacts have not developed any symptoms and will remain under medical surveillance.
According to the epidemiological investigation, the patient lives and works in Hung Hom. He reported no direct contact with rodents and said he had not seen rats at either his residence or workplace.
The patient had briefly travelled outside HK in April, but health authorities noted that there have been no reported human cases of rat hepatitis E infection in the places he visited.
Medical literature indicates that people with liver diseases, including chronic liver conditions, are considered a high-risk group and are more likely to develop hepatitis or liver function abnormalities after contracting rat hepatitis E virus.
Based on the available epidemiological information, the CHP believes the patient was more likely infected locally. Authorities said it could not be ruled out that he had indirectly come into contact with environments or food contaminated by rats or rodent excreta during the incubation period.
The source and mode of transmission remain under investigation.
The CHP urged the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene and to strengthen rodent prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of infection.
The case is the first reported rat hepatitis E infection in Hong Kong this year. Over the past five years from 2021 to 2025, the city recorded an annual average of zero to two human cases.
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