Sharp surge in rubella cases in Japan prompts travel warning from Hong Kong health authorities
- A total of 914 cases were reported in the past six weeks
- Children under one and other non-immune Hongkongers advised not to visit Japan during outbreak
Hong Kong health authorities are warning travellers to exercise caution when visiting Japan after a sharp surge in rubella cases was seen during a local outbreak.
The city’s Centre for Health Protection specified that children under one should not visit Japan, a popular holiday destination among Hongkongers, as they were not yet due for vaccination under the Childhood Immunisation Programme.
All pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy who were non-immune to the infection should not travel to Japan during the outbreak, the centre advised. Rubella infection during pregnancy can result in abnormal development of the fetus, especially during the first trimester.
In the past six weeks, 914 cases were reported, making up most of the 1,289 cases recorded this year as of last Wednesday. Only 93, 126 and 163 cases were recorded in 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively.
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The cumulative incidence this year was highest in Chiba prefecture (37.6 cases per million population), followed by Tokyo (32 cases per million population) and Kanagawa prefecture (17.9 cases per million population).
Rubella is a highly infectious disease, with symptoms including cough, runny nose, low fever and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.