UPDATED : Friday, 27 April, 2018, 2:04pm
The spectre of a measles outbreak, already under way in Japan and
Taiwan, now looms over the city, after a male patient was confirmed to
have contracted the highly communicable viral disease in a suspected
imported case, prompting surveillance of 20 others.
The 46-year-old expat, who had travelled to
Thailand alone from March 1 to April 8, developed a rash, red eyes,
muscle pain, vomiting, fever and a cough on April 18, the Centre for
Health Protection said on Thursday.
The man, who lived alone, sought medical help at
a clinic from the TY Medical Practice chain on Hennessy Road in
Causeway Bay on Sunday, and again on Monday. He has since been placed in
isolation at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam.
The patient’s respiratory specimens tested
positive for measles, one of the most highly communicable infectious
diseases. The man’s condition was stable as of Thursday.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2142868/measles-outbreak-japan-puts-travel-plans-hong-kong-tour" rel="nofollow - Measles outbreak in Japan puts travel plans for some Hong Kong tour groups on hold
The centre said it had been conducting contact
tracing with the clinic. As of 5pm on Thursday, 20 people had been
contacted. They showed no symptoms and were put under medical
surveillance.
However, their last contact with the
man was three to four days ago, while the incubation period for the
disease could be at least seven days, the centre noted.
“The patient had been abroad for more than half
of the incubation period. The centre cannot rule out that it might be an
imported case,” a spokesman said.
An investigation is under way.
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2130914/papuas-deadly-measles-outbreak-shows-decades-neglect" rel="nofollow - Papua’s deadly measles outbreak shows decades of neglect, experts say
As of Tuesday, there had been 70 confirmed
measles cases in Okinawa since the end of last month, including the
first identified case – a Taiwanese traveller whose condition was
confirmed on March 20.
In Nagoya, Japan, a teenage boy who had visited
Okinawa was confirmed to have measles. At least six other cases
involving people who had contact with the boy were subsequently
reported.
In Taiwan, 23 cases had been confirmed as of
Tuesday, including seven imported cases. The first patient had tested
positive in Okinawa and had been to Thailand during the incubation
period, according to the centre.
Source and vaccination information: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2143610/measles-case-confirmed-hong-kong-amid-outbreak" rel="nofollow - http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2143610/measles-case-confirmed-hong-kong-amid-outbreak