Hong Kong Confirms First Case Since 2019
Hong Kong confirmed its first case of Japanese encephalitis in six years when a 49-year-old woman was diagnosed after returning from the Philippines. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said the patient, a foreign national, is in stable condition and is receiving hospital treatment.
The woman had visited the Philippines between July 21 and August 4, staying in the countryside, the CHP said. Because her incubation period coincided with the time she was there, the case was labeled as imported infection by officials.
Patient’s Condition and Medical Response
The patient initially started developing symptoms like fever, headache, and vomiting on August 10. She initially visited the accident and emergency department of Sha Tin’s Prince of Wales Hospital before being hospitalized on a subsequent visit owing to her recurring illness.
She lives at Castello, a private residential estate in Sha Tin. Four of her domestic contacts have presented no symptoms but are still under medical observation. The case has been notified to the Philippine health authorities and epidemiological investigations are currently ongoing.
Understanding Japanese Encephalitis
This is the first Japanese encephalitis case in Hong Kong since 2019, when three cases of infection were reported. It is caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus transmitted mainly by the bite of an infected mosquito. It cannot be transmitted from person to person.
The majority of infections are mild, with patients reporting only headaches and fever. In about one in 250 infections, however, severe illness follows, with symptoms that may include disorientation and seizure, or coma or death. The virus is most frequently encountered in rural and farm areas in Asia and the Western Pacific, especially in warmer months.
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Health Authorities Stress Vigilance
Authorities have called on the public to be cautious, particularly tourists traveling to rural areas of Asia where the disease is prevalent. Control of mosquitoes and vaccination are still important measures for minimizing risk of infection.
With this incident, medical professionals are cautioning residents about the need for early detection and travel awareness, as mosquito-borne illnesses continue to present global public health issues.
