TB patient, 18, isolated after discontinuing treatment
The Centre for Health Protection says tuberculosis patients should complete the entire course of anti-TB treatment. File photo: RTHK
Health officials have placed a teenage tuberculosis patient under quarantine after he failed to turn up for treatment as required.
The secondary school student, 18, sought treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on May 13 due to shortness of breath, fever, weight loss and a persistent cough, sometimes coughing up blood. He left hospital on Sunday against advice from doctors and was told to go to a government chest clinic for follow up.
The patient attended one session the next day and received one dose of anti-tuberculosis treatment, but didn't continue his treatment as scheduled.
On Friday, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) issued an isolation order, and the teenager was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital.
"Since the patient has only received anti-TB treatment for a short period of time, discontinuing the treatment would worsen the infection, increase the risk of transmission and emergence of drug-resistant TB, posing a public health threat," a government statement said.
"Those diagnosed with TB should follow their doctor's instructions and complete the entire course of anti-TB treatment."
Health officials also said the student had not been vaccinated under the local immunisation programme.
The CHP said it was arranging screening for teachers, staff and students of the same grade at his school.
No other cases have been reported so far.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
3 days ago
- HKFP
Hong Kong records 3 more chikungunya fever infections, as expert warns of steady increase in imported cases
Hong Kong's health authorities have recorded three more imported cases of the mosquito-borne chikungunya fever, including an elderly woman who returned from Foshan, the mainland Chinese city that has emerged as a hotspot for the virus. The three new cases were reported by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on Wednesday evening, bringing the total in Hong Kong to four. Among them was a 79-year-old woman living in Southern District. She developed a fever and joint pain on Monday and was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital the next day, where she is in stable condition. The patient travelled to Foshan, in nearby Guangdong province, to visit relatives in July, but did not recall getting bitten by mosquitoes there. As she stayed in Foshan for most of the incubation period, the CHP considered that she was infected while travelling. The other two cases reported on Wednesday involved a 55-year-old man and his son, aged 10, living in Kwai Tsing. They travelled to Bangladesh between July 12 and August 3, and both developed fever and joint pain while they were still abroad. Both are now in Princess Margaret Hospital and are in stable condition. Their household contacts are currently asymptomatic and are under medical surveillance. Hong Kong's first imported case of the virus was reported last Saturday, involving a 12-year-old boy who returned from Foshan last month. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has taken mosquito extermination and prevention measures near the patients' homes and other places they have visited. Health authorities in Foshan, Guangdong province have recorded more than 7,000 confirmed cases. More infections expected The Head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the CHP, Albert Au, reminded members of the public to adopt precautions against mosquito-borne diseases in this rainy season. And speaking on RTHK on Thursday, infectious disease expert Joseph Tsang said more infections could be expected given the 'frequent exchanges' between Hong Kong and Guangdong. 'Chikungunya fever hasn't become endemic, but whether it will become unstoppable in the future depends on future developments,' Tsang said in Cantonese. Tsang, who is co-chair of the Hong Kong Medical Association's advisory committee on communicable diseases, also said residents should refrain from visiting high-risk areas and not just rely on authorities' control measures. The mosquito-borne virus should not be underestimated, he added, as it could leave patients with chronic arthritis. According to the CHP, Hong Kong saw between one and 11 chikungunya infections each year from 2016 to 2019. The FEHD has urged residents to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures including changing water in vases, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes. Separately, microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung, who advised the Hong Kong government's Covid-19 response during the pandemic, told local media that the infections were within expectations given the number of people in Hong Kong who travel to mainland China for holiday.
HKFP
6 days ago
- HKFP
Hong Kong records first imported case of chikungunya fever after outbreak in mainland China
Hong Kong health authorities have recorded the city's first imported case of chikungunya fever since 2019, saying the patient was infected in a mainland Chinese city that has logged almost 7,000 cases as of Thursday. According to an initial investigation by the Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection (CHP), the 12-year-old boy, who lives in On Tat Estate in Kwun Tong, was infected in Foshan in Guangdong province between July 17 and 30. The boy, now in stable condition, was admitted to United Christian Hospital for treatment on Friday, a day after he developed a fever, rash, and joint pain, the CHP said in a Saturday statement. His blood sample has tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus. The boy's household contacts are currently asymptomatic and under medical surveillance, while health authorities have also conducted investigations and taken mosquito control measures. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has conducted investigations and will conduct mosquito prevention and control measures at the patient's home, the vicinity of the hospital, as well as locations he visited after the onset of symptoms. 6,900 cases Citing the World Health Organisation, the CHP said that over 220,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in 14 countries and regions, of which 80 cases were fatal. It also said that the Foshan health authorities logged more than 6,900 cases as of last Thursday, all of which were mild, with no severe or fatal cases. Other cities such as Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Dongguan have also reported cases. According to the CHP, chikungunya fever is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Aedes mosquitoes. 'During the early stage after the onset of symptoms (especially when a fever is present), the blood of patients of [chikungunya fever] contains a large amount of virus, which is infectious to mosquitoes,' said Albert Au, head of the centre's Communicable Disease Branch. 'Therefore, avoiding mosquito bites of the patient is an important measure to prevent local transmission,' he said. The FEHD urged residents to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures including removing potential breeding grounds in their homes and surroundings, changing water in vases, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes.
HKFP
01-08-2025
- HKFP
Chikungunya fever poses ‘medium to high risk' of local transmission, warns Hong Kong health official
The mosquito-borne chikungunya fever poses a 'medium to high risk' of local transmission in Hong Kong, as thousands of cases were reported in the neighbouring Guangdong province, a city health official has warned. Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), said on an RTHK radio show on Thursday that Guangdong province had seen a 'localised outbreak' of chikungunya fever over the past few weeks following some imported cases. Based on the CHP's communication with Guangdong authorities, the southern Chinese province has logged around 6,100 cases so far, Au said. About 90 per cent of the cases were recorded in Foshan, but other cities such as Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Dongguan have reported cases too, he added. While Hong Kong has not recorded any cases so far, authorities are 'on high alert,' Au said. 'It is a time for summer holidays, and Hongkongers love to travel to Guangdong province. With frequent travel, there is a high risk of imported cases,' the health official said. 'Hong Kong has more mosquitoes during summer,' he added. 'So if there are imported cases, there is a medium to high risk that it will lead to local transmission.' According to the CHP, chikungunya fever is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Aedes mosquitoes. While the vector Aedes aegypti is not found in Hong Kong, Aedes albopictus, another species that can also spread the disease, is commonly found in the city. Chikungunya fever causes rare fatalities, and its symptoms are milder than those of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne disease. However, chikungunya fever carries a higher transmission potential than dengue fever, Au said. Mosquito control measures Meanwhile, the Housing Department has stepped up measures to prevent and control mosquitoes in public housing estates in Hong Kong due to the chikungunya outbreak in Guangdong. According to a statement on Thursday, the department is conducting fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes and has taken measures such as removing stagnant water and water-holding containers and keeping drains clear of blockages to prevent water accumulation.
