The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health on Monday reported Hong Kong's third locally acquired chikungunya fever case in Tsing Yi as the city strengthened measures to prevent the mosquito-borne virus from spreading.
The 45-year-old male patient, who lives in Kwai Tsing and works in Sheung Wan, is in stable condition after developing a fever, joint pain and rash on Oct 30, the CHP said in a statement.
It said the patient did not visit Wong Tai Sin, where the two other locally acquired cases this year were detected, during the incubation period.
“However, there is an overlap in the patient's residence and usual activity areas with individual imported cases,” the CHP said, adding that it will carry out genome analysis to determine if the patient’s infection can be linked to imported cases confirmed earlier.
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Hong Kong has recorded a total of 55 confirmed chikungunya cases since the start of the year, including three local infections while the rest are imported cases.
Together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Kwai Tsing District Office, the CHP inspected various locations in the vicinity of patient's residence and conducted mosquito control operations to minimize the risk of local transmission.
It urged the residents living nearby Mount Haven in Tsing Yi, Kwai Chung Plaza and Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan to seek medical advice or contact the CHP immediately if they had a fever, rash or joint pain since Oct 1.
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The CHP will set up health consultation booths at Kwai Fong Estate, Cheung Hang Estate and Sheung Wan on Tuesday to provide assessments for residents with symptoms. It also continued to follow up the local cases in Fung Tak Estate in Wong Tai Sin, conducting assessments for about 11,000 residents.
The FEHD and other departments have also enhanced mosquito control measures in Hong Kong since July, including carrying out intensive fogging, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week.
