Six more Hong Kong residents infected with measles, government says

Six more Hong Kong residents, including four working at the airport, were reported to be infected with measles on Tuesday, the government said.

The latest cases have brought the number in the city this year to 26, nine of which have involved airport and airline personnel.

The numbers are already higher than the annual figures for the previous four years.

“The situation this year is unusual compared to in previous years,” said Dr Wong Ka-hing, controller of the Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection. “There is the possibility that some people, including those working at the airport, have been infected but are still in the incubation period … So we expect that the outbreak this time is definitely not over.”

The latest four airport cases involve two security workers, a shop assistant, and a customs officer working at the border. The Customs and Excise Department confirmed on Tuesday evening that a male customs officer had been hospitalised and his situation was stable.

The other five cases previously discovered at the airport in March involve a flight attendant, two baggage handlers, another security guard and a pilot. The three security guards all work for the same company.

Wong said the outbreak might not only be limited to Hong Kong International Airport, but there could also be smaller-scale outbreaks around the city.