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Mary Ann

Mary Ann Benitez

A part-time butcher has become the latest victim of the pig-borne disease Streptococcus suis.

The 54-year-old, who lives in Aberdeen, developed fever, headache and neck pain nearly two weeks ago. He was admitted to hospital on Tuesday and was stable yesterday.

The infection is the third this year in Hong Kong. All the cases were diagnosed within the past eight days and are believed to have been contracted locally.

The victim helped sell pork at several markets, said a Centre for Health Protection spokeswoman, who would not name the markets.

The patient had spent a day in Shenzhen early this month, but the trip 'may not be related' to the disease, she said. There have been no reported cases on the mainland since a deadly outbreak in 2005.

The centre is still investigating the latest case.

The bacterial infection is rarely fatal in humans, but an unusually virulent strain killed more than 30 people in Sichuan province  in 2005. Eight cases were reported last year in Hong Kong, with 13 - two of them fatal - in 2005.

Lo Wing-lok, a specialist in infectious diseases, said summer was the high-risk period for the disease.

'[The bacterium] is already known to exist in pigs in Hong Kong, so it can be said it is already endemic.

'People should pay careful attention to wounds to the hands, and wear proper dress and protective gloves when handling raw meat and pork innards,' Dr Lo said.

Streptococcus suis can cause meningitis - inflammation of the membrane enclosing the brain - and septicaemia, both serious infections, but treatable with antibiotics.



Butcher is third victim of pig-borne disease in eight days