Hong Kong health officials reported today the third locally acquired case of chikungunya fever (CF) in a 45-year-old male living in Kwai Tsing District and working in Sheung Wan.
A preliminary investigation revealed that he developed a fever, joint pain and rash on October 30. He sought medical attention at a private doctor on November 1. He was referred to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Princess Margaret Hospital and was admitted for treatment in a mosquito-free environment on the same day. He is in stable condition now. His blood sample tested positive for chikungunya virus upon laboratory testing.
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A preliminary investigation revealed that the patient had no travel history in the preceding three months (including the incubation period prior to onset). The case is classified as a local case.
The investigation also revealed that the patient did not visit Wong Tai Sin during the incubation period (i.e., the location of infection for the other two locally acquired cases this year). However, there is an overlap in the patient’s residence and usual activity areas with individual imported cases. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) will carry out genome analysis to ascertain whether it has epidemiological linkage with the imported cases confirmed in Hong Kong earlier. Investigation is ongoing.
Hong Kong has recorded a total of 55 confirmed CF cases this year, including three local cases and the rest are imported cases.