Three children from the same primary school in Tuen Mun have been added to the list of youngsters across Hong Kong stricken by scarlet fever.
Details of the latest victims of the highly contagious and potentially fatal childhood disease were revealed yesterday, taking the number of cases city-wide this year to the highest level since records began in 1997.
They are two boys and a girl aged either six or seven, who have been suffering from fever, rashes, a sore throat and inflamed tongues since June 3.Two were sent to hospital and have been discharged. All are now in stable condition and have not travelled abroad recently.
Scarlet fever normally affects young children aged two to eight.
The rash appears over the trunk and neck and spreads to the limbs, especially armpits, elbows and groin.
A total of 373 scarlet fever cases have been reported so far this year.
Last weekend, a six-year-old boy was admitted to hospital and transferred to intensive care. He had not travelled recently either and is now in stable condition.
