Hong Kong uses DNA to probe suspected E coli cluster after doctor's death
One of the experts involved in the investigation said on Wednesday that authorities had not ruled out any possibilities about the cases in the oncology department at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung.
An oncologist in his thirties died on Friday last week, less than 24 hours after being admitted to hospital.
The doctor showed signs of severe infection, low blood oxygen levels and high fever, which required him to be intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit.
Authorities have indicated the cluster may be an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E coli , although testing has been inconclusive.
'We are not ruling out any possibilities,' Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, chair of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong's department of microbiology, said on a radio show.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
2 days ago
- RTHK
Short eight-week wait within sight for eye patients
Short eight-week wait within sight for eye patients Dr Christopher Leung says the next step is to develop a community-based primary eye-care model that is supported by AI. Photo: RTHK Eye patients who are covered under two hospital clusters may be able to receive treatment within eight weeks instead of putting up with the current wait of up to 117 weeks, a University of Hong Kong ophthalmologist said on Thursday. That will happen as part of the upcoming phase of a community eye-screening project conducted by the university and the eye-care NGO Orbis, which have provided eye checkups for more than 5,800 public housing estate residents aged 50 or above, over a span of two years. Around 12 percent of Hong Kong residents suffer from optic nerve degeneration, project researchers found, while almost seven percent are susceptible to glaucoma, an irreversible eye disease that can lead to blindness. Researchers also revealed that among those with glaucoma, more than 70 percent of people did not know they had the disease and often only sought medical consultations when their conditions worsened. Dr Christopher Leung, from the university's department of ophthalmology, said a more comprehensive detection system for eye diseases is needed to prevent avoidable vision loss among Hong Kong residents. He said the next step is to develop a community-based primary eye-care model, which will be supported by an AI-powered optical coherence tomography diagnostic system – a non-invasive and non-contact imaging test that uses machines. 'The design of the project is based in the community. We have these [machines] set up in the general outpatient clinics and district health centres. These clinics typically have no eye doctors and eye specialists,' Leung said. 'The fact that we are now able to train AI to read out investigation reports at the same level as an eye specialist, and the ophthalmic nurses and optometrists can make use of the information provided by the AI to inform our patients whether they need a referral, whether they need to see an eye doctor.' The project will be first implemented in 2026 for a year in the Kowloon East and Hong Kong West clusters of the Hospital Authority. It will see patients either being referred to general outpatient clinics and district health centres to receive care from optometrists and ophthalmic nurses or following current treatment procedures that puts them in the queue. Leung said his team will then compile and analyse the data gathered and provide suggestions to the government to refine ophthalmology services in the city.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong urged to brace for chikungunya fever amid global outbreaks
Leading expert Yuen Kwok-yung has said Hongkongers should stay alert against chikungunya fever. He warned that the mosquito-borne disease could cause prolonged joint pain. Yuen is chair of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong's department of microbiology. He issued the warning following recent outbreaks in mainland China. Last month, the city recorded its first imported chikungunya fever case since 2019. Yuen said a potential outbreak in Hong Kong could be large because of the population's weak immunity. The World Health Organization also issued an urgent call for action against chikungunya fever. The virus has been affecting other parts of the world, including Madagascar, Kenya and India. Europe has also seen a growing number of cases. Chikungunya fever is spread by Aedes albopictus mosquito bites. Cases typically develop fever and joint pain that can last for a long period. Other potential symptoms include muscle pain, nausea and rashes. The risk is higher for older people, newborns and those with chronic illnesses. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, wear loose clothes and insect repellent.
South China Morning Post
08-08-2025
- South China Morning Post
Eliminating mosquitoes not enough to fight China's chikungunya fever outbreak, experts say
Experts in mosquito-borne infectious diseases are warning against excessive insect eradication campaigns as cities in southern China seek to eliminate mosquitoes in the fight against chikungunya fever Advertisement Guangdong province in southern China has been hit by a wave of chikungunya fever cases , with more than 7,000 people affected so far – marking the most severe outbreak since the disease was first detected in China nearly two decades ago. Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. While rarely fatal, it can lead to symptoms such as fever, rash and joint pain. The combination of heat, humidity and rain has created a favourable environment for mosquitoes to thrive and spread the disease. In Foshan, the centre of the outbreak, some health authorities have penalised businesses, including hotels and restaurants, for failing to promptly eliminate mosquito breeding sites, according to state-run news site However, Jin Dongyan, a professor of biomedical science at the University of Hong Kong, said the efforts to kill all kinds of mosquitoes in the cities, including those in homes and shops, may be missing the target because most of them did not carry the virus. A sanitation worker sprays insecticide to prevent the spread of chikungunya on August 3 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images Chikungunya is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which can also transmit the dengue and Zika viruses. However, Aedes aegypti is rarely seen in Guangdong, according to Jin.
