CHP examines imported case of Japanese sleeping sickness
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is examining today (August 20) an imported case of Japanese sleeping sickness (JE) and prompted the general public to take correct mosquito control and individual protective steps when taking a trip to JE endemic locations.
The case includes a 49-year-old female living in Shatin District. Preliminary examinations exposed that she took a trip to the Philippines in between July 21 and August 4, and checked out backwoods there. She went back to Hong Kong on August 4 and established fever, headache and throwing up considering that August 10. She participated in the Accident and Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital on August 12 however did not need hospitalisation. As her signs continued, she went to the health center once again on August 14 and was confessed to the healthcare facility. She is presently in steady condition.
Her cerebrospinal fluid sample checked favorable for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies versus JE upon lab screening. Given that the client remained in the Philippines throughout the incubation duration, the CHP thought about that she was contaminated throughout travel, and the case was categorized as an imported one. Her 4 family contacts are presently asymptomatic and under medical monitoring. The CHP’s epidemiological examinations is continuous and the case will be reported to the health authority of the Philippines.
This is the very first JE case tape-recorded in Hong Kong this year, which is an imported case. In the previous 5 years (from 2020 to 2024), no JE cases were taped in Hong Kong.
JE is primarily sent by mosquito and the principal vector is Culex tritaeniorhynchus. It is not transferred from individual to individual. Mosquitoes reproduce in locations where there is a great deal of stagnant water, such as rice paddies, and end up being contaminated when they bite pigs or wild birds contaminated with the JE infection. The contaminated mosquitoes then transfer the infection to people and animals throughout biting. JE prevails in backwoods of Asia and the Western Pacific Region, particularly in hot season. In the subtropics and tropics, transmission can take place year-round, frequently with a peak throughout the rainy season.
Signs generally begin around 4 to 14 days after being contaminated. Many clients with JE have moderate signs, without any substantial signs aside from fever and headache. Roughly one in every 250 infections is associated with extreme health problems characterised by quick beginning of high fever, headache, neck tightness, disorientation, coma, seizures, spastic paralysis, and even death.
To avoid JE, the general public must take basic procedures to avoid mosquito bites. Members of the general public, particularly those preparing to take a trip to JE endemic locations, ought to take the following procedures:
– Consult a medical professional a minimum of 6 weeks before taking a trip to JE endemic locations, and have additional preventive steps to prevent mosquito bites;
– Travellers preparing to remain in JE endemic locations, especially in backwoods, for one month or longer, or those preparing to have substantial comprehensive outside or night-time direct exposure in backwoods throughout the transmission season of the illness, might consult their family physician and think about getting JE vaccination;
– During travel in JE endemic backwoods, bring a portable bed internet and use permethrin (an insecticide) on it. Permethrin ought to not be used straight to the skin. Look for medical attention without delay if sensation unwell; and
– Travellers feeling unhealthy, such as having a fever, need to look for medical suggestions without delay, and offer travel information to the medical professional.
The general public might check out the CHP’s JE page, pointers for utilizing bug sprays, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, Travel Health Service and likewise the Mosquito Prevention and Control committed page of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to learn more.