Coronavirus: infected passengers from Nepal may have sparked latest round of cases in Hong Kong, top virologists say
- The new virus strain found among latest local cases bears a close resemblance to those imported from Nepal, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection says
- ‘It is very likely that the cases from Nepal brought in the local infections,’ Professor Leo Poon of HKU says
Infected travellers from Nepal are “very likely” to have sparked the latest Covid-19 outbreak, adding to fears of a possible fourth wave in Hong Kong, top virologists have said, with a new coronavirus type found among city residents being almost identical to a strain in the South Asian country.
Hong Kong recently tamed a raging third wave of infections, with only a sporadic number of local cases reported over the last few weeks.
But 15 new infections linked to China Secret bar in Tsim Sha Tsui and more than 10 cases tied to a staycation holiday in Mui Wo have again put the city on edge.
On Wednesday, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said an analysis of recent cases by the University of Hong Kong showed the virus strains were not similar to those found in previous rounds, such as from the Bun Kee restaurant cluster, which was widely believed to have started the third wave in late June.
Pathogen strains found among patients at the disabled care home, the Home of Treasure, last month were also not similar to those in recent cases.