Hong Kong health authorities have recorded two new imported cases of chikungunya fever, involving a 50-year-old male and his 8-year-old daughter who returned from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
This brings the total number of recorded cases in the city this year to eight, with all cases of the mosquito-borne virus being imported according to a statement from The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on Thursday.
While travelling in Dhaka between July 20 and August 10, the male patient developed a fever and joint pain, the CHP said. He sought local medical attention and tested positive for the virus after a blood test.
The patient visited a private hospital in Hong Kong on Tuesday over his swollen joints, but did not require hospitalisation as his fever had already subsided before returning to the city. By then, he was not infectious to mosquitoes.
The girl developed a fever, cough, and fatigue on Tuesday and was admitted for treatment at a private hospital the next day. She remains in a stable condition, the CHP said.
The patients’ three other household contacts remain asymptomatic and under medical surveillance, with authorities intensifying mosquito prevention and control measures around their Sai Kung residence and other locations visited.
According to the CHP website, symptoms of the mosquito-borne virus include fever and joint pain, with other common signs such as muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. There is no antiviral drug treatment available – preventative measures are best.
The CHP’s investigations remain ongoing, and it has reported the cases to the health authorities in Bangladesh.
Additional measures
The Controller of the CHP, Edwin Tsui said that members of the public should not conduct self-testing and rather promptly seek medical advice if they suspect they are infected with chikungunya fever: “[C]urrently, there are no rapid test products on the market that have been certified by international health authorities for public use in self-testing for [chikungunya].”
Tsui added that the public should not self-medicate with aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen as they “may cause serious side effects,”
During the rainy season, members of the public should adopt additional measures to prevent mosquito bites and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as through the use of DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients after taking the necessary precautions,” Tsui added.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has also urged residents to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures including changing water in vases, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes.
