Hong Kong Investigates New Mpox Case, Urges Vaccination for High-Risk Groups

CHP investigates confirmed Mpox case

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (November 17) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and urged the public to be vigilant and avoid close physical contact with persons suspected of contracting Mpox. Meanwhile, high-risk target groups are advised to receive Mpox vaccinations.

The case involves a 33-year-old male. He developed a skin rash on November 9 and attended the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic of the DHon November 13. He is undergoing isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital and is currently in stable condition.

According to the patient, he did not receive Mpox vaccination and he had a history of high-risk exposure in Hong Kong during the incubation period. No epidemiological linkages between this case and other confirmed cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier could be identified so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and will attempt to contact individuals who were at high-risk exposure to him. The CHP will report the case to the World Health Organization.

Hong Kong has put in place the Preparedness and Response Plan for Mpox since June 2022 and activated the alert response level under the Plan after the first confirmed case of Mpox in September of the same year. The CHP has implemented a series of measures (including enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, public education and vaccination), which have been effective in preventing local outbreaks of Mpox in the past three years.

Since 2022, a total of 83 Mpox cases (67 local and 16 imported) have been recorded in Hong Kong, of which 15 cases were recorded this year. All the patients were male. Epidemiological investigations revealed that most cases had history of high-risk sexual behaviour, including having sex with strangers or without wearing condoms when having sex. Hong Kong has not yet detected any new Mpox strain (Clade Ib) cases.

The CHP reminded high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccinations in order to lower the risk of infection or the possibility of having more severe symptoms after infection. In addition, persons who experience Mpox symptoms (including rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches) or suspect themselves of being infected are advised to seek medical attention and receive treatment at once. They should not engage in activities with others that may expose others to their skin rash or body fluids. Members of the public should maintain good personal and hand hygiene to prevent virus transmission or infection through contact. They should also avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of being infected.

The CHP has set up a telephone hotline (2125 2373), which operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays. Those who suspect or are concerned that they may have had high-risk contact with confirmed cases, particularly men who have sex with men or those who have sexual practices with strangers, can use the hotline to make enquiries and receive relevant health advice.

Furthermore, the DH provides vaccination services to high-risk groups of Mpox. The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:

1. individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
2. healthcare workersresponsible forcaring forpatients with confirmed Mpox;
3. laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
4. animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in caseof Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.

High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre.

Meanwhile, the DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.

For more details, please visit the CHP's page onMpoxandMpox Vaccination Programme.

Source: AI-found images

Fatal traffic accident in Kowloon City

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Kowloon City today (June 28) in which a man died.

At 5.48pm, a public light bus (PLB) driven by a 48-year-old man was travelling along Argyle Street towards Kwun Tong. When approaching the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts, it reportedly went out of control, mounted the pavement and knocked down two male pedestrians, aged 39 and 43, and a 16-year-old female pedestrian.

Sustaining serious head and multiple body injuries, the 43-year-old male pedestrian was rushed to Kwong Wah Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 7.23pm.

The PLB driver sustained injuries to his head and limbs and was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in conscious state. Sustaining injuries to their heads, necks and limbs, the 39-year-old male pedestrian, the 16-year-old female pedestrian, and 15 passengers of the PLB (seven men and eight women), aged between 9 and 63, were sent to Kwong Wah Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in conscious state respectively.

The PLB driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team 2 of Traffic, Kowloon West is under way.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 9062.

Source: AI-found images