CHP examines imported measles case

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 1) is examining an imported measles case and advised members of the general public to make sure that they have actually finished 2 dosages of measles vaccination before taking a trip to minimize the danger of infection.

The case includes a 38-year-old male with excellent previous health. He established diarrhea and rash given that February 22 and February 25 respectively. He participated in the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on February 26 and was confessed for treatment and seclusion on the exact same day. His medical specimen was checked favorable for the measles infection upon nucleic acid screening. He is still hospitalised and in steady condition.

Upon notice of the case, the CHP instantly started epidemiological examinations. According to the client, he took a trip to Vietnam throughout the incubation duration (February 3 to 8). As he did not have contact with measles clients in Hong Kong, the case has actually been determined as an imported case. His travel security is presently asymptomatic.

He had actually remained in Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) throughout the contagious duration. The CHP has actually kept a close intermediary with the HKSI for follow-up on the contacts of the case. As he likewise checked out the snack bar of the HKSI from February 22 to 25, the CHP has actually established a query hotline (Tel: 2125 2372) for individuals who went to the lunchroom of the HKSI. The hotline will run from tomorrow (March 2) to March 7 (from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Sunday).

The examination is continuous.

As what the CHP had actually mentioned in a current news release, the variety of measles cases in some abroad nations has actually been on the increase just recently. Apart from the United States, measles break outs have actually taken place in surrounding nations, consisting of Vietnam and the Philippines, due to suboptimal total measles vaccination protection.

“The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. When such symptoms appear, people should wear surgical masks, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and contact with unvaccinated people, especially those with weak immune system, pregnant women and children under one year old. Those who suspected they are infected should consult their doctors as soon as possible and inform healthcare workers of their history of exposure to measles,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, stated.

“Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, the overall immunisation coverage in Hong Kong has been maintained at a very high level through the immunisation services provided by the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres and the School Immunisation Teams. As evidenced by the findings on vaccination coverage of primary school students and the territory-wide immunisation surveys conducted regularly by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has remained consistently high, well above 95 per cent, and the local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most of the people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. However, Hong Kong, as a city with a high volume of international travel, still faces the potential risk of importation of measles virus and its further spread in the local community. Hence, a small number of people who have not completed measles vaccination (such as non-local born people including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to other people who do not have immunity against measles, such as children under one year old who have not yet received the first dose of measles vaccine,” he included.

Dr Tsui likewise kept in mind that individuals born before 1967 might be thought about to have actually obtained resistance to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in lots of parts of the world and in Hong Kong at that time. Individuals born in or after 1967 who have actually not yet finished the 2 dosages of measles vaccination or whose measles vaccination history is unidentified, to consult their family physician as quickly as possible to finish the vaccination and guarantee appropriate security versus measles. For those who prepare to take a trip to measles-endemic locations, they must inspect their vaccination records and case history as early as possible. If they have actually not been identified with measles through lab tests and have actually never ever gotten 2 dosages of measles vaccine or are unsure if they have actually gotten measles vaccine, they need to speak with a medical professional a minimum of 2 weeks prior to their journey for vaccination.

Being immunized versus measles, members of the public need to take the following steps to avoid infection:

• Preserve excellent individual and ecological health;
• Preserve great indoor ventilation;
• Keep hands tidy and clean hands appropriately;
• Wash hands when they are soiled by breathing secretions, such as after sneezing;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and get rid of nasal and mouth discharge appropriately;
• Tidy utilized toys and furnishings effectively; and
• Individuals with measles ought to be stayed out of school till 4 days from the look of a rash to avoid the spread of the infection to non-immune individuals in school.

For additional information on measles, the general public might go to the CHP’s measles thematic page. Members of the general public who are going to take a trip can go to the site of the DH’s Travel Health Service for news of measles break outs outside Hong Kong.

Ends/Saturday, March 1, 2025

Provided at HKT 23:10

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