Local Measles Case Linked to Previous Infection; Health Authorities Urge Vaccination for Protection

CHP investigates local measles case epidemiological linked to earlier measles case

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 18) is investigating a local measles case epidemiological linked to an earlier measles case. The CHP reminds members of the public that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.

The case involves a 30-year-old male who developed myalgia on April 14; a fever and a sore throat on April 15, and a rash on April 17. He attended a private clinic in Mong Kok on April 17 due to persistent symptoms, and was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre for treatment arranged by the CHP on the same day. His clinical specimen was tested positive today for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. The patient is isolated for treatment and is in stable condition.

An epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient works at the airport. On April 3, he had worked at the same workplace with the measles case announced on April 6. As the patient is a close contact of the previous airportcase, the CHP has earlierreminded the organisation's medical service provider to pay attention to the possible occurrence of measles case among the close contacts. Thereafter, the organisation's medical service provider reported the suspected case to the CHP for follow up on April 17. The patient was uncertain whether he had received measles vaccination. As he lives alone and had no travel history during the incubation period, the CHP is of the view that the patient was probably infected at the workplace.

During the patient's communicable period (since April 13), in addition to visiting a private clinic on April 17, he worked at the airport from April 13 to 15. The CHP has been carrying out contact tracing in the private clinic that the patient had visited and his workplace to identify any close contacts and high risk individuals. As of 5pm today, a total of 100 individuals who stayed in the same clinic with the patient and 162 relevant staff at his workplace were identified as close contacts. The CHP had set up a health booth today from 3pm to 8pm at the airport to provide assessment and vaccination for close contacts working at the airport. The health booth will continue to operate from 9am to 6pm tomorrow (April 19) and April 20. The CHP has inspected the environment at the patient's workplace at the airport and given health advice on site today. The CHP will continue to put the close contacts under medical surveillance.

The CHP will continue to investigate and follow up on the case.

"Measles outbreaks are currently occurring in many regions around the world. North America (including the United States, Canada and Mexico) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines) have seen persistent measles outbreaks in recent years due to low vaccination coverage rates. In the first three months of this year, about 1 700 cases have been recorded in the United States, a figure far higher than during the same period last year. In Europe, the number of measles cases in the United Kingdom and Italy has increased recently, with 371 and 84 cases recorded respectively since January this year. In Asia, the incidence of measles remains high in the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia. Japan has also seen a substantial rise in cases this year, with 236 cases recorded as of the end of March, which is higher than in the same period for the past six years. Singapore and Australia have reported 27 and 89 measles cases respectively this year, also higher than in the same period last year. Most of the overseas cases have affected people who were not vaccinated against measles or had an unknown vaccination status, which highlights the importance of maintaining a high vaccination rate and herd immunity within the community," said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.

In response to the global rise in measles cases and the risk of imported cases, the CHP has sent a letter to all doctors in Hong Kong to inform them of the latest situation regarding measles and urged them to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases. At the same time, the CHP has also sent letters to foreign domestic helper agencies and the aviation industry, encouraging foreign domestic helpers and airport staff to receive the measles vaccine to protect their health and prevent the spread of the virus in the community.

The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If travellers returning from places with high incidence or outbreak of measles develop symptoms of measles (e.g. fever and rash), they should seek medical advice immediately and avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially pregnant women and infants under one year old. They should also report their symptoms and prior travel history to healthcare workers so that appropriate infection control measures can be implemented at the healthcare facilities to prevent any potential spread.

"Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, the overall immunisation coverage in Hong Kong has been maintained at a very high level through the immunisation services provided by the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres and School Immunisation Teams. As evidenced by the findings on vaccination coverage of primary school students and the territory-wide immunisation surveys conducted regularly by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has remained consistently high, well above 95 per cent, and the local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. However, Hong Kong, as a city with a high volume of international travel, still faces the potential risk of importation of the measles virus and its further spread in the local community. Hence, a small number of people who have not completed a measles vaccination (such as non-local-born people including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to other people who do not have immunity against measles, such as children under 1 year old who have not yet received the first dose of the measles vaccine," Dr Tsui said.

People born before 1967 could be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in many parts of the world and in Hong Kong at that time. People born in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination, or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, should consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination and ensure adequate protection against measles.

Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:

Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;

Maintain good indoor ventilation;

Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;

Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;

Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;

Clean used toys and furniture properly; and

Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of a rash to prevent the spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP'smeasles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH'sTravel Health Servicefor news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.

CHP investigates local measles case epidemiological linked to earlier measles case Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CHP investigates local measles case epidemiological linked to earlier measles case Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seminar on National Security for Trade Unions concludes

The Registry of Trade Unions (RTU) of the Labour Department organised the Seminar on National Security for Trade Unions (the Seminar) today (April 18) to enhance the awareness and sense of responsibility of trade unions in safeguarding national security. The Seminar featured exchanges of measures taken by the labour sector to safeguard national security, contributing to the security and development of the country and Hong Kong. Co-organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, the Seminar attracted around 420 participants on-site and online.

The Seminar was officiated by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun. In his opening remarks, Mr Sun said that the successful conclusion of the eighth-term Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election last year, which fully implemented the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and faithfully upheld the principle of "one country, two systems", was a crucial realisation of strengthening the national security shield. The voter turnout rate in the functional constituency of the labour sector was nearly 90 per cent, fully reflecting the proactiveness of the labour sector in safeguarding the country and home. As this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, it is incumbent upon all sectors of the community to consider and act on how Hong Kong can make full use of its strengths to serve the country's needs and further integrate into the overall national development. He encouraged the labour sector to seize the opportunities from the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and help contribute Hong Kong's strengths to the country's development.

Mr Sun added that apart from the establishment of solid institutional safeguards, every individual and institution must also have the commitment to national security. The National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly states the need to strengthen national security education and fortify the defensive line in people. According to the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) shall promote national security education through social organisations, including trade unions, to raise the awareness of national security and law-abidingness among Hong Kong residents. He called on the labour sector's concerted efforts to safeguard national security.

At the Seminar, the President of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and LegCo Member, Mr Stanley Ng, and the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions and LegCo Member, Mr Lam Chun-sing, shared their insights on the labour sector's role in safeguarding national security.

The Seminar featured two keynote presentations, including a succinct exposition on how Hong Kong safeguards national security by the former Vice-chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and former Secretary for Justice, Dr Elsie Leung, who also shared her valuable insights on national security; and a brief overview on the newly amended Trade Unions Ordinance by the Registrar of Trade Unions, Miss Christine But.

Moreover, the Seminar included a panel discussion session in which four guests, namely, Mr Ng; the General Secretary of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions and LegCo Member, Mr Chau Siu-chung; the President of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association, Mr Tsoi Koon-lung; and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union, Mr Fung Chuen-chung, shared the measures and practical experiences of labour organisations and trade unions in promoting national security education.

The RTU will continue to collaborate with labour organisations and trade unions to promote national security education.