CHP investigates local measles case epidemiological linked to earlier measles cases
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 20) is investigating a local measles case epidemiologically linked to earlier measles cases. In response to the global rise in measles cases and the recent consecutive infections of three individuals working at the airport, the CHP once again urged airport staff and foreign domestic helpers to receive the measles vaccine to protect their health and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.
The latest case involves a 37-year-old male working at the airport. He has developed a fever and myalgia since April 15, followed by a cough and a sore throat the next day. He attended a private clinic in Tuen Mun on April 16 and 18. The patient developed a rash on the evening of April 18. On the following day, the CHP arranged for him to beadmitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and treatment. His clinical specimen was tested positive today for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. The patient remains hospitalised and is in stable condition.
An epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient worked for the same company at the airport as the two measles cases previously announced by the CHP. The patient lives alone and is uncertain whether he has received measles vaccination. The CHP believed that it is highly likely that the patient was infected at his workplace. The three cases are epidemiologically linked.
During the patient's communicable period (since April 14), in addition to visiting the private clinic on April 16 and 18, he also went to work at the airport on April 15 and 19. The CHP has been carrying out contact tracing to identify any close contacts and high risk individuals. As of 5pm today, a total of 31 individuals who stayed in the same clinic with the patient during the same time period and 68 relevant staff at his workplace were identified as close contacts.
The health booth set up by the CHP at the airport has provided assessment and vaccination for over 200 staff working at the airport since April 18. The health booth will continue to operate until Wednesday (April 22), with service hours from 10am to 5pm.
The CHP will continue to investigate and follow up on the cases, and put the close contacts under medical surveillance.
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. So far this year, about 1 750 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 407 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 92 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.
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.
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's measles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH's Travel Health Service for news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.
Photo source: reference image
Speech by CE at Welcome Dinner for Global Prosperity Summit 2026 (with photos/video)
Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Welcome Dinner for the Global Prosperity Summit 2026 today (May 18):
Vice President Han Zhiqiang (Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association), Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Mrs Regina Ip (Chairperson of Savantas Policy Institute and Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It's a pleasure to join you, tonight, for the welcome dinner of the third Global Prosperity Summit.
This annual summit is dedicated to fostering cross-cultural dialogue and, in turn, advancing sustainable prosperity worldwide.
China, our country, certainly shares these goals.
The Global Governance Initiative, unveiled last year by President Xi Jinping at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting, highlights the importance of abiding by international rule of law, practising true multilateralism, advocating a people-centred approach, and other principles in line with the United Nations Charter.
It adds to our country's Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. Together, they underscore China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
As a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong upholds these important values, and endeavours to realise them. A champion of free trade and multilateralism, Hong Kong's doors have long been open – wide and welcoming to all.
In a world riddled with geopolitical and economic ruptures, Hong Kong stands out as an economy, and a society, built on stability, certainty and trust. Call them our natural resources, entrusted to us by the "one country, two systems" principle. And know that they are in great demand, because they instil confidence, encourage co-operation, and the rewarding opportunities co-operation enables.
In its latest assessment on Hong Kong's economic and financial situation, published last week, the International Monetary Fund reaffirms Hong Kong's role as an international financial centre and "super connector", particularly as a leading fundraising hub and premier offshore Renminbi centre. It notes that Hong Kong's economy has continued to recover, supported by robust technology-related exports, improving private demand and a rebound in financial market activity.
Indeed, the Hong Kong economy, I'm pleased to note, has expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026 – growing 5.9 per cent year-on-year. That's a significant acceleration from the 4.0 per cent growth in the preceding quarter. Last year, Hong Kong became the world's fifth-largest trading entity in merchandise trade, achieving a 17.5 per cent year-on-year increase.
These are all backed by Hong Kong's unique edge under the "one country, two systems" principle, which brings together the China advantage and the global advantage in this world city. It ensures our established tradition of the rule of law, and a common law system that resembles most global financial hubs. It ensures our low and simple tax regime. It ensures the free flow of information, capital, goods and talent.
More than that, it ensures our city continues to thrive as a conduit of cultures, a platform for exchange, and an engine of sustainable innovation.
This Global Prosperity Summit is a compelling illustration of that. Tomorrow morning's opening session puts a bright spotlight on APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. This year, China, our country, is APEC's host economy, with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting taking place in Shenzhen in November and Hong Kong hosting, for the first time, the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in October, thanks to the unwavering support of our country.
Finance ministers and senior officials from APEC's 21 member economies are expected to attend the meeting. We anticipate that representatives of international organisations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank will also be there.
For Hong Kong, it is a precious, and much welcomed, opportunity to deepen international co-operation and exchanges, while showcasing our formidable strengths as a global financial centre and much more.
Of course, APEC and the world at large are well aware of Hong Kong's stature and structure as an international financial centre – ranked third in the world, and topping the Asia-Pacific rankings, in the latest Global Financial Centres Index. But the Finance Ministers' Meeting gives APEC leaders the chance to see, firsthand, why Hong Kong is also the world's leading offshore Renminbi centre, gateway to China's capital markets and magnet for Mainland and international IPOs – with more and more listings coming from rising technology industries.
And that creates another splendid prospect – the opportunity to showcase the Northern Metropolis. We're eager to welcome international financial and business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs, here for the APEC meetings and more, to take a close-up look at Hong Kong's future economic engine and innovation and technology hub.
The National 15th Five-Year Plan, approved in March, supports the fast-track development of the Northern Metropolis. Spanning one-third of Hong Kong's area, the Northern Metropolis borders Hong Kong's boundary with the Mainland city of Shenzhen.
It provides valuable land for innovative development, and will boost our contributions to the country's overall development and our integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In cutting-edge technology, in global finance, and in many more areas.
Take education, for example. Hong Kong is the only city that boasts as many as five universities in the world's top 100. Subjects like dentistry, nursing, and education offered by our institutions are ranked among the global top 10. Our two medical schools are both in the world's top 50.
To build on the strengths of our world-class education sector, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government will develop the Northern Metropolis University Town. It will provide fresh pieces of land for post-secondary institutions to introduce signature programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects.
Hong Kong's third medical school will admit its first students in two years' time. It will eventually move to a permanent site in the Northern Metropolis, together with an integrated medical education, research and patient-care hospital.
There it will take its place as a pillar of the Northern Metropolis University Town, supporting Hong Kong's rise as an education hub and medical research and innovatin centre, attracting a world of teaching, research and medical talent.
The Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform was launched at the end of last year, in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, a vast area that covers both sides of our boundary with Shenzhen. There, we work together with our Shenzhen counterpart in co-ordinating multi-centre, cross-boundary clinical trials that meet both national and international standards.
Later this year, we will set up the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation, focused on its emergence as an internationally recognised regulatory authority for medical products. The Centre, let me add, will emphasise both Western and Chinese medicine and medical devices.
And, in late March, we began implementation of primary evaluation for new drug registration. It will allow for the faster approval of innovative drugs in Hong Kong, while encouraging local R&D (research and development).
In September, we will host the World Cancer Congress, welcoming medical specialists and researchers from all over the world to Hong Kong.
Deepening international exchanges and co-operation through such mega events allows the world to see Hong Kong as the free and open economy, and society, it is – one committed to creating rewarding opportunities for all concerned.
I'm also pleased to add that the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly will be held in Hong Kong in November. That, ladies and gentlemen, speaks of Hong Kong's growing prominence in international law enforcement. Delegates from some 190 law enforcement bodies worldwide will gather here – to see that our law enforcement agencies are highly regarded, that we are home to a globally recognised anti-corruption commission, and that Hong Kong is one of the world's safest cities.
We are among the world's leading sports and entertainment cities, too, let me add. Last month, the Hong Kong Sevens celebrated its 50th anniversary in style, at our world-class Kai Tak Sports Park. The event was said to have generated economic benefits of more than HK$100 million. And the organisers have plans to expand it from a three-day tournament to a week-long festival of sports and entertainment.
In December, Hong Kong will host the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly, one of the sports world's major events.
The international gathering is expected to attract over 1 200 sports leaders, dignitaries and representatives from over 200 National Olympic Committees, as well as the International Olympic Committee and the Organising Committees of the Olympic Games.
There's more, much more to tell, ladies and gentlemen. And in so many sectors, industries and areas, each and every one reflecting, in its own inimitable way, Hong Kong's singular status as a multi-level bridge connecting economies, cultures, peoples and opportunities.
My thanks to the organisers – the Savantas Policy Institute, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong – for once again bringing the world to us.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all the best of business at the Global Prosperity Summit, and a memorable stay with us in Hong Kong.
Thank you very much.
Speech by CE at Welcome Dinner for Global Prosperity Summit 2026 (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CE at Welcome Dinner for Global Prosperity Summit 2026 (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
