The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) announced on Saturday that two additional cases of chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral illness, were identified by 5pm.
The first case involved a 17-year-old female resident of Sai Kung District who had traveled to Foshan, Guangdong, from October 10 to 12.
She began experiencing fever, joint pain, and a rash on October 16 and sought treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital on the same day.
The second case involved a 55-year-old male from Kwai Tsing District, who had visited Qingyuan, Guangdong, alone from October 8 to 13.
He developed fever and joint pain starting October 15 and received medical attention at Princess Margaret Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department on October 17.
Both patients tested positive for the chikungunya virus through laboratory analysis and were admitted to hospitals for treatment in mosquito-free environments.
They are reported to be in stable condition.
As both individuals were in Guangdong during the virus’s incubation period, the Centre for Health Protection determined that they contracted the illness during their travels, classifying the cases as imported.
The six household contacts of the patients, three from each case, who either traveled with the teenager or live with the man, are currently showing no symptoms but are under medical observation to monitor for potential infection.
The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations and has notified Guangdong’s health authorities about the cases to facilitate coordinated monitoring.
These two cases bring Hong Kong’s total chikungunya fever cases for 2025 to 41, all of which have been linked to travel abroad.
For comparison, the city recorded between one and 11 imported cases annually from 2016 to 2019, indicating a significant uptick this year.
Authorities are urging travelers to take precautions against mosquito bites, particularly in regions where the virus is prevalent, to prevent further cases.
