The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 17) examining an in your area obtained case of chikungunya fever (CF), and is dealing with different federal government departments to carry out suitable avoidance and control steps to minimize the danger of regional transmission. The CHP advised the general public to remain alert and take appropriate mosquito control and individual protective steps both in your area and when taking a trip. Preventing mosquito bites and removing mosquito reproducing websites work methods to avoid CF.

Case information
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The case includes a 55-year-old female who resides on Li Tak Street in Tai Kok Tsui. Initial examination exposed that she established a fever, headache, and discomfort in her fingers and wrists joints on September 7, followed by a rash on her face and body. She looked for medical attention at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on September 16, and was confessed on the very same day for treatment in a mosquito-free environment. She is presently in steady condition. Her blood sample evaluated favorable for CF upon lab screening by the CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch.

Initial examination likewise exposed that the client had no travel history throughout the incubation duration (August 26 to September 5), and the case was categorized as a regional case. She stayed in your home for the majority of the incubation duration and often had activities in the area of her house. To the very best of her recollection, she had mosquito bites at her home and in the locations around Cherry Street Park and Lok Kwan Street Park. She has a family contact who stays asymptomatic to date. The CHP has actually executed avoidance and control procedures according to epidemiological examinations and run the risk of evaluation, consisting of supplying medical security and health suggestions to her family contact. If required, the CHP will schedule lab screening. The epidemiological examination is continuous.

Considering the above case, Hong Kong has actually taped 3 validated CF cases this year to date, consisting of one regional case and 2 imported cases. In 2015, 82 verified CF cases were taped, consisting of 11 regional cases, and the rest were imported cases.

Federal government’s thorough follow-up actions
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The DH is performing extensive follow-up actions in cooperation with appropriate departments, consisting of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Yau Tsim Mong District Office (YTMDO), and District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams). Officers from the CHP and the FEHD have actually carried out website assessments, vector examinations, and mosquito control steps in the area of client’s home. The CHP has actually likewise established a hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which runs till 8pm today, and from 9am to 6pm beginning tomorrow (September 18). The CHP attracted members of the general public who live in or have actually checked out the area of Li Tak Street, Cherry Street Park and Lok Kwan Street Park in Tai Kok Tsui to look for medical recommendations, or get in touch with the CHP without delay if they have actually established a fever, rash or joint discomfort considering that August 1. As a preventive step, the CHP will establish a health assessment cubicle on the ground flooring of the Tai Kok Tsui Municipal Services Building, 63 Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, beginning with tomorrow, to supply health evaluations for members of the general public with appropriate signs. The service hours of the health assessment cubicle is 10am to 5pm.

The CHP personnel and the Care Teams in the district are now actively connecting to the citizens in the location worried to examine and monitor their health conditions, and to inform them the signs of CF. The CHP will collectively arrange a health talk in partnership with the YTMDO at C.C.C. Kei Tsun Primary School on 150 Tai Kok Tsui Road, intending to raise public awareness of how to avoid mosquito-borne illness and motivate individuals to take part in avoidance and control steps to secure themselves and others.

The CHP will likewise send out a letter to all physicians, healthcare facilities, schools and organizations in Hong Kong, discussing the most recent circumstance relating to CF and advising them to stay alert. If there are any believed cases, they ought to instantly alert the CHP for follow-up.

Preventive procedures to be taken by the public
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According to the World Health Organization, an overall of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths were reported in 41 countries/territories in 2015. Cases were reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. Since August 31, the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Administration reported that Guangdong Province had actually taped 739 CF cases in 2026. Of those cases, 496 were taped in August, which is a significant boost from the 36 and 171 cases tape-recorded in June and July respectively.

The CHP advises members of the general public to keep great ecological health, and to take proper steps to avoid mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, both in Hong Kong and when taking a trip to locations impacted by mosquito-borne illness, in order to avoid mosquito-borne illness. Mosquito-borne illness such as DF and CF are endemic in different nations worldwide. The threat of importation continues. Members of the general public ought to examine the scenario at their locations before taking a trip abroad, particularly when taking a trip to Southeast Asian nations. In addition, whether taking a trip or not, members of the general public must utilize DEET-containing bug sprays or other efficient active components effectively to avoid mosquito bites, however the following preventative measures ought to be taken when utilizing them:

• check out the label directions thoroughly initially;
• use right before getting in a location with a threat of mosquito bites;
• use on exposed skin and clothes;
• usage DEET of approximately 30 percent for pregnant ladies and approximately 10 percent for kids (For kids who take a trip to nations or locations where mosquito-borne illness are endemic or epidemic and where direct exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can utilize DEET-containing bug sprays with a DEET concentration of approximately 30 percent);
• use sun block initially, then bug spray;
• reapply just when required and follow the guidelines; and
• in addition to DEET, there are other bug sprays readily available on the marketplace including various active components, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When utilizing any bug spray, the general public needs to follow the use guidelines and preventative measures on the item label.

The FEHD interest members of the general public to continue to remain alert and interact to perform mosquito avoidance and control procedures early, consisting of examining their homes and environments to get rid of prospective breeding premises, altering water in vases and scrubbing their inner surface areas, getting rid of water in dishes under potted plants a minimum of as soon as a week, and correctly getting rid of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD likewise encourages members of the general public and home management companies to keep drains pipes without obstruction and level all faulty ground surface areas to avoid the build-up of water. They ought to likewise scrub all drains pipes and surface area sewage systems with an alkaline cleaning agent a minimum of as soon as a week to eliminate any mosquito eggs.

The general public ought to call 1823 in case of mosquito issues, and might check out the following pages for more details: the CF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the most recent Travel Health News, ideas for utilizing bug sprays, and the CHP Facebook Page, Instagram Account and YouTube Channel, and likewise the Mosquito Prevention and Control committed page of the FEHD.