Scarlet fever feared to have killed second child
Scarlet fever is suspected to have claimed the life of a second child yesterday as the number of recorded cases soared to nearly double the previous high.
It would be the first time two deaths from scarlet fever have occurred in a year in Hong Kong since the present disease notification system began in 1997.
A five-year-old boy who died in Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday had initially been treated for chickenpox but developed symptoms of scarlet fever on Sunday. He died of toxic shock syndrome after bacteria entered his bloodstream.
Following the boy's death, the Salvation Army Tin Ka Ping Kindergarten in Sha Tin Wai, which he attended with about 400 other children, closed for a week. This the first such action since the epidemic began.
Salvation Army community relations director Simon Wong Kwok-ching said the kindergarten stepped up precautions last month, with two rounds of cleaning a day, and children were banned from playing together.
The number of cases of the highly contagious disease, caused by what researchers say is a mutated bacterium, has reached 466 this year, nearly double the previous annual record of 235 in 2008.
There were 26 confirmed cases yesterday. Two pupils were infected in an outbreak at Pristine Kindergarten, Yuen Long, and two more at Oblate Primary School in Kowloon City.
'We are dealing with a severe epidemic and a high number of cases,' Centre for Health Protection controller Dr Thomas Tsang Ho-fai said.
The aunt of one five-year-old child in the same grade at the Tin Ka Ping Kindergarten as the boy who died, said: 'Of course I'm worried. The children have classes together and a lot of close contact. I hope the school will do more cleaning.'
The dead boy developed a fever a week ago and was treated by a general practitioner for chickenpox. Symptoms of scarlet fever, including a body rash, became apparent and he was admitted to hospital on Sunday.
'Skin abrasions caused by chickenpox increase the chance of bacterial infections,' Tsang said, though only 1 per cent of scarlet fever patients developed chickenpox first.
He said the centre would publish information on new cases and any institutional outbreaks on its website.
A seven-year-old girl died of scarlet fever on May 29. Two boys, six and 11, developed severe complications, but are now stable.
University of Hong Kong researchers found 2.5 per cent of gene segments in a bacterial sample from the six-year-old were new. Such a genetic mutation could explain the large number of cases, they said.
Doctors are keeping an eye on the condition of the dead boy's two brothers, who have not yet developed symptoms.
Scarlet Fever - the facts
What are the symptoms
Fever, sore throat, reddened tongue, and a rash that spreads over the body and results in peeling. Typically affects children aged two to eight.
How do you contract the disease?
It spreads through the respiratory tract or direct contact with respiratory secretions. It is caused by the Group A Streptococcus bacteria.
How do you prevent the disease?
Pay attention to hygiene and vigilantly wash hands. Maintain cough and sneeze manners and do not send infected children to school.
How do you treat it?
Antibiotics like penicillin will prevent transmission within one day.
