Hong Kong faces an elevated risk of imported Chikungunya fever cases and potential localized transmission, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) warned on Thursday, as neighboring regions report surging infections.
Albert Au Ka-wing, head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch, told a radio program this morning that the mosquito-borne disease has spread rapidly across Guangdong province, with about 6,100 cases recorded—90 percent concentrated in Shunde, Foshan.
Macau and Shenzhen have also reported infections, though Hong Kong has yet to confirm any local cases.
Au noted that Chikungunya fever is "spreading aggressively" worldwide, with approximately 220,000 cases reported this year, primarily in South America and Indian Ocean nations.
The disease has a short incubation period and spreads more efficiently than dengue fever, raising concerns about potential outbreaks in Hong Kong.
"Given the city's hot weather, which favors mosquito breeding, and residents' frequent travel habits, the risk of imported cases is high," Au said.
However, he emphasized that Hong Kong's robust surveillance system—including patient travel history checks and coordinated mosquito control efforts with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department—makes it "extremely unlikely" for Chikungunya to become endemic.
As a precaution, health authorities have ramped up public awareness campaigns at land border checkpoints and advised doctors across the city to monitor suspected cases. Patients displaying symptoms such as high fever, joint pain, and rashes will be required to undergo further testing and treatment.
(Marco Lam)
