DH announces latest situation of Legionnaires' disease cases
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 14) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD), and reminded the public of the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.
From July 6 to 12, the CHP recorded four community-acquired LD cases. The details of the cases are as follows:
A 70-year-old male patient with underlying illnesses living in Wong Tai Sin District;
A 62-year-old male patient with underlying illnesses living in Yuen Long District;
A 76-year-old male patient with underlying illnesses living in Tuen Mun District; and
A 64-year-old male patient with good past health living in Tuen Mun District.
The CHP is conducting epidemiological investigations to identify potential sources of infection and high-risk exposure. Initial investigation revealed that all four cases are sporadic cases. No epidemiological linkages have been established between these case and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong.
As of July 12, 82 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2024 and 2023, there were 135 and 121 LD cases respectively.
Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels.
Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
Immunocompromised persons should:
Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and
If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.
The public should observe the health advice below:
Observe personal hygiene;
Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:
Wear gloves and a face mask;
Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.
The public may visit the CHP'sLD page, theCode of Practice for Prevention of LDand theHousekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Managementof the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP'srisk-based strategyfor prevention and control of LD.
Source: AI-found images
Online public voting begins for EDB's Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge
Online public voting for the Family Resilience Series: Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge under the Positive Parent Campaign organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) commences today (January 5) and runs until 3pm on January 19. Parents, students, teachers and members of the public are invited to participate actively in voting for The Most Liked Award across each group.
A spokesman for the EDB said, "The competition has received an enthusiastic response, with over 1 200 entries submitted across four groups: kindergarten, primary, secondary and open groups. Participants conveyed messages about actively facing life's challenges, building resilience, and promoting mental well-being in different ways. To encourage public participation and enhance the interactivity of the competition, the EDB has established The Most Liked Award in each group. Members of the public may vote for their favourite entry in each group through the activity website (www.parent.edu.hk/en/smart-parent-net/topics/article/ppc-competition2025) from the 20 outstanding entries selected by the adjudicators. The entry receiving the most 'likes' in each group will be awarded The Most Liked Award. The result and awards will be announced and presented at the Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony on January 24."
The EDB aims to enhance the understanding of the Positive Parent Campaign among students, parents, and the public through activities under the Family Resilience Series, and to work with parents and schools to create an environment conducive to the healthy development of students through promoting the 4Rs Mental Health Charter.
The EDB has been running the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020. For updates, please visit the Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en).
Photo source: parent.edu.hk
