Hong Kong records first imported case of chikungunya fever since 2019
A source confirmed the imported case of the chikungunya infection on Saturday, weeks after a surge in cases of the disease was identified in Guangdong. About 6,100 cases have been recorded in the province so far, with about 90% of patients concentrated in Foshan's Shunde district.
The boy had been staying in Shunde for almost two weeks before returning to Hong Kong, according to a source.
Infectious disease expert Yuen Kwok-yung said the 12-year-old boy travelled to Foshan for 14 days and developed a fever soon after returning to Hong Kong. He also had a rash and joint pain, and was admitted to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tung, Yuen said.
The boy's blood tested positive at the Centre for Health Protection, Yuen said, adding the patient had been transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital in Lai Chi Kok for mild conditions.
"Everyone who comes back with any fever, joint pain or rash should be tested so that anti-mosquito work can be started around their homes and workplaces," he said.
"All cargo from endemic areas should be inspected and anti-mosquito work done at cargo areas."
Yuen said implementing proper anti-mosquito measures at cargo places and patients' residences or workplaces could prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in the city, adding that the efforts required the cooperation of residents and authorities.
Health authorities are expected to announce more details later on Saturday.
In Macau, six imported cases of chikungunya fever had been recorded since mid-July, four of which involved travel to Foshan during the incubation periods.
Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong visited the southern city of Foshan in Guangdong province, urging residents to "strictly implement port health quarantine measures", according to state news agency Xinhua on Friday.
During his trip to Guangdong, Liu told authorities to "improve prevention and control measures", "effectively eliminate mosquitoes" and halt the disease's "spread channels".
Chikungunya fever is spread by Aedes albopictus mosquito bites, with cases typically developing fever and joint pain that can last for a long period. Other potential symptoms include muscle pain, nausea and rashes.
It shares similar symptoms of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne disease, with one marked difference being that patients with the former often developed joint pain.
Infectious disease expert Yuen warned earlier that any potential outbreak in the city could be on a large scale, due to weak immunity levels among the population.
"After being infected, some people mistakenly believe they'll feel better in a few days, but that's not the case. The joint inflammation and swelling can persist for more than three months in about 40 per cent of patients," he said last week.
Hong Kong last recorded cases of chikungunya fever in 2019, with the tally reaching 11 patients. The city also reported two cases in 2018, one in 2017 and eight in 2016. All cases between 2016 and 2019 were imported.
The World Health Organization earlier issued an urgent call for action against chikungunya fever as the virus had been affecting other parts of the world, including Reunion Island, Madagascar, Kenya and India.
Europe has also seen a growing number of imported cases and some local transmission.
The word "chikungunya" comes from the east African language Kimakonde and means "to become contorted". It has been used to describe the stooped appearance of infected patients suffering from joint pain.
The virus was first identified in 1952 in Tanzania. It then spread to other sub-Saharan countries and Southeast Asia.
It has been reported in more than 110 countries, according to the WHO.
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