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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Hong Kong : Imported case of Japanese encephalitis under CHP investigation

Press release from CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (September 4) investigating an imported case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) affecting a 20-year-old man and hence urged the public to take precautions against mosquito-transmitted diseases.

The patient, with good past health, developed fever and vomiting on August 24 in Thailand and subsequently consulted a local doctor on August 26. Upon arrival in Hong Kong on August 31, he sought medical attention from Princess Margaret Hospital, where he is currently admitted for management in stable condition.

Both his serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples tested positive for antibodies against JE, a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infective mosquitoes, upon preliminary laboratory testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP.

Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had travelled to Thailand from July 28 to August 31. The CHP's investigation is proceeding.

To date, three JE cases (two local and one imported) have been reported to the CHP this year. Three cases (two imported and one local) were reported in 2012 while one (a local case) was reported in 2011. Locally, no cases were reported from 2008 to 2010."

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