HK logs three new chikungunya fever cases

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating three newly logged imported chikungunya fever (CF) cases, in which the patients are living in Tsing Yi and Ap Lei Chau.

The first case involved a 79-year-old woman from Lei Tung Estate. She visited Foshan, Guangdong, from July 1 to July 31. She developed fever and joint pain on Monday (Aug 4) and was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital the next day.

She tested positive for the chikungunya virus, and her health condition is stable. 

Since most of her incubation period was in Foshan, it is considered an imported case. No travel companions or household contacts were affected. 

The second and third cases involved a 55-year-old man with chronic illness and his 10-year-old son from Mount Haven in Tsing Yi. They traveled to Bangladesh from July 12 to August 3. 

The man developed symptoms on July 27 and sought treatment on August 4 at Princess Margaret Hospital. 

The boy fell ill on August 1 and was treated at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital - Tsuen Wan before being transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital on August 5.

Both tested positive for the chikungunya virus and are currently stable. 

CHP believes the patients were infected during their trip to Bangladesh, classified as imported cases. 

Two household contacts who traveled with them are asymptomatic and under medical surveillance.