Measles case confirmed in Hong Kong amid outbreak in Japan and Taiwan
46-year-old expat patient had travelled to Thailand from March 1 to April 8 before developing rash, muscle pain, fever and other symptoms
The spectre of a measles outbreak, already under way in Japan and Taiwan, now looms in Hong Kong after a man was confirmed to have contracted the highly communicable viral disease in a suspected imported case, prompting surveillance of 20 others.
The 46-year-old expat, who had travelled to Thailand alone from March 1 to April 8, developed a rash, red eyes, muscle pain, vomiting, fever and a cough on April 18, the Centre for Health Protection said on Thursday.
The man, who lived alone, sought medical help at a clinic from the TY Medical Practice chain on Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay on Sunday, and again on Monday. He has since been placed in isolation at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam.
The patient’s respiratory specimens tested positive for measles, one of the most highly communicable infectious diseases. The man’s condition was stable as of Thursday.
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The centre said it had been conducting contact tracing with the clinic. As of 5pm on Thursday, 20 people had been contacted. They showed no symptoms and were put under medical surveillance.
However, their last contact with the man was three to four days ago, while the incubation period for the disease could be at least seven days, the centre noted.