CHP Investigates New Locally Acquired Mpox Case Linked to Recent Outbreak at Hutong Restaurant.

CHP investigates confirmed Mpox case epidemiologically linked to "Hutong"

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (June 5) that it is investigating a confirmed locally acquired Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case epidemiologically linked to the two cases involving in "Hutong" announced on May 25. The CHP has been closely following up on the investigation, including attempting to contact individuals who visited the premises on or after May 1, providing them with health education and continuing to conduct medical surveillance. The CHP 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.

Case details

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The case involves a 52-year-old male who reported to have high-risk contact at a premises called "Hutong" on Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, on May 2 (during the incubation period). He developed a non-pruritic and painless rash over his genital area on May 21, followed by a fever and sore throat on May 25, and a subsequent rash eruption over his upper limbs, chest, and anal region. The CHP made several attempts to contact the patient between the end of May and the beginning of June, but had failed to reach him. The CHP thus sent him a text message. The patient attended the Yau Ma Tei Male Social Hygiene Clinic on June 4 to seek medical treatment and reported relevant high-risk contact history to the healthcare workers. The CHP subsequently arranged for him to receive isolation treatment at the Yan Chai Hospital. The patient is currently in stable condition. His samples tested positive for Monkeypox virus upon laboratory testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP.

According to the information provided by the patient, he has not received Mpox vaccination. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations of the case and endeavouring to contact individuals who had high-risk contact with him. The CHP will report the case to the World Health Organization.

Follow-up on the "Hutong" cases in Mong Kok

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The CHP continues to follow up on the investigation of the cases in "Hutong", and has now successfully contacted around 300 persons who have visited the premises on or after May 1. No other cases have been identified so far. The CHP has provided them with health education and continued to conduct medical surveillance. The CHP again urges anyone who visited the premises on or after May 1 to call the CHP's designated Mpox telephone hotline (2125 2373), so that the CHP can provide health assessments and advice. The hotline operates daily from 9am to 6pm. As investigations are still ongoing, the premises has been closed temporarily starting from May 26.

Furthermore, the CHP will collaborate with Hong Kong AIDS Foundation to launch an outreach Mpox vaccination activity in the next two weeks at the organisation's service centre in Mong Kok. Eligible high-risk groups (especially men who have sex with men) can make an appointment on the organisation's website.

Since 2022, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 88 Mpox cases (71 local cases and 17 imported cases), including the above-mentioned case. All patients were males. Epidemiological investigations revealed that most cases had history of high-risk sexual behaviour, including having sex with strangers or having sex without wearing condoms.

Mpox vaccine

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Mpox vaccine can prevent infection and severe disease. The DH provides Mpox vaccination services for highrisk groups. The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:

• 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;

• healthcare workersresponsible forcaring forpatients with confirmed Mpox;

• laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and

• 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 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.

Mpox is not transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols in general, and transmission would not occur through social contact. The CHP reminds the public, especially those at higher risks of exposure, to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of infection. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience relevant symptoms, including rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches. They should not engage in activities with others that may involve contact with skin rash or body fluids.

For more details, please visit the CHP's page on Mpox and Mpox Vaccination Programme.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP), Photo source: reference image

Employers and employees should make reasonable work arrangements after tropical cyclones or rainstorms

The Labour Department (LD) today (June 8) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for employees after the cancellation of tropical cyclone warnings or rainstorm warnings, with due consideration to the road and traffic conditions and other factors, and make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work or work remotely (if applicable). This will help maintain good labour-management relations, and ensure the safety of employees as well as the smooth operation of organisations.

"For staff who have genuine difficulties in resuming work on time upon cancellation of a tropical cyclone or rainstorm warning, employers should be sympathetic and handle each case flexibly. For example, employers may allow employees to resume work in stages, permit employees who have difficulties in returning to workplaces to work remotely (if applicable) or allow more time for them to report for duty and resume work," an LD spokesman said.

The spokesman reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.

"As natural calamities cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume duty on time due to adverse weather or extreme conditions, employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonus or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, or ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty," the spokesman said.

Employers should note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. Moreover, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or extreme conditions are in force.

The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).

Source: AI-found images