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The CHP has stepped up inspections at boundary control points, and urged doctors and hospitals to immediately report any detected CF cases.
In response to recent cases of mosquito-borne disease Chikungunya fever (CF) recorded in Guangdong’s Foshan and Macao, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said on 22 July that it will continue to work closely with the health authorities in Guangdong Province and Macao to take appropriate preventive and control measures according to risk assessment to prevent the spread of CF in Hong Kong.
As of 20 July, the Foshan Municipal Health Bureau reported 2,285 CF confirmed cases, primarily in Shunde District. All cases were mild, with no severe or fatal cases reported so far.
In Macao, the first CF case of this year was recorded on 18 July. The patient had travelled to Shunde during the incubation period and was classified as an imported case.
CF symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever. Patients with CF typically presente with fever and joint pain. Other common symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. While most patients recover on their own, in some cases, some may experience persistent joint pain for several months or even years.
Dr Edwin Tsui, Controller of the CHP, stated that although no confirmed CF cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far this year, the rising temperature and rainfall in summer is expected to aggravate mosquito infestation in Hong Kong. Additionally, people travel more frequently during summer holidays, including to regions where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic. This raises the risk of imported cases and local transmission of mosquito-borne diseases, such as CF and dengue fever.
To cope with the risk, the CHP has stepped up inspections at boundary control points, and is conducting temperature screening for inbound travellers.
The professional arm of the DH has issued a letter to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong, urging them to be vigilant for CF-related symptoms in individuals returning from outbound travel. Any detected CF cases should be immediately referred to hospitals for treatment and reported to the DH per the established mechanisms.
The DH will continue to enhance health education regarding mosquito-borne diseases. The interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee will also review and plan future anti-mosquito initiatives.
Further, Dr Tsui reminded the public to take precautionary and personal protection measures against mosquitoes, both locally and when travelling outside Hong Kong.
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued global alerts about the risk of the spread of Chikungunya fever.
According to the WHO, CF cases have been recorded in more than 110 countries and regions. As of early June this year, over 220,000 cases had been reported in 14 countries and regions worldwide, including in the Mainland, Taiwan, and Singapore, all of which are popular tourist destinations for Hong Kong citizens. Approximately 80 of these cases have been fatal.
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