Hong Kong records fifth monkeypox case, authorities call for vigilance and urge high-risk groups to get vaccinated
2023.04.29 18:50Hong Kong health authorities have called on residents to be more vigilant after the city recorded its fifth monkeypox infection, which is not linked to other confirmed cases according to a preliminary investigation.The latest case involves a 59-year-old male patient with chronic disease who developed a body rash last Tuesday. He visited the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the Department of Health on Thursday and tested positive for monkeypox on Friday evening, according to the Centre for Health Protection on Saturday.“He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital and is now in a stable condition,” it said.Hong Kong authorities confirm fourth monkeypox case as experts warn of more to comeAn initial investigation found that the patient, who had travelled to Guangdong multiple times from April 2 to 19, had high-risk exposure during the incubation period.“No epidemiological links between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been fo
Hong Kong health authorities have called on residents to be more vigilant after the city recorded its fifth monkeypox infection, which is not linked to other confirmed cases according to a preliminary investigation.
The latest case involves a 59-year-old male patient with chronic disease who developed a body rash last Tuesday. He visited the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the Department of Health on Thursday and tested positive for monkeypox on Friday evening, according to the Centre for Health Protection on Saturday.
“He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital and is now in a stable condition,” it said.
Hong Kong authorities confirm fourth monkeypox case as experts warn of more to come
An initial investigation found that the patient, who had travelled to Guangdong multiple times from April 2 to 19, had high-risk exposure during the incubation period.
“No epidemiological links between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier have been found,” the centre said. “The [centre’s] epidemiological investigations of the case are ongoing, including contact tracing and infection source investigation.”
The centre urged the public to heighten vigilance, avoid close physical contact with people suspected of having monkeypox, and get the mpox vaccine if they are in the high-risk target groups.
They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience the following symptoms: rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain or severe headaches, it added.
Hong Kong recorded its third and fourth infections last week, concerning a 25-year-old man who had visited South Korea and Japan and was a close contact of a 34-year-old man earlier confirmed to have the virus.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that spreads through prolonged contact between people. It causes a distinctive bumpy rash, fever and muscle aches. The most recent outbreak has spread to more than 100 countries.
The city had its first confirmed case of the virus last September when a 30-year-old man returned from travelling in the Philippines.
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According to the centre, early symptoms include fever, intense headaches and fatigue. Painful mouth ulcers and skin rashes usually begin to appear one to three days after the onset of fever, and symptoms usually last for two to three weeks.
The centre said the disease’s fatality rate was between 1 and 10 per cent, based on previous outbreaks.
The World Health Organization said last November it was renaming monkeypox as mpox because of “racist and stigmatising” language surrounding the virus.
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