Hong Kong’s fourth locally acquired chikungunya fever case resulted from a new source of infection unrelated to previous ones, health authorities have confirmed, urging those living in the same area as the patient to seek medical advice if they show symptoms.
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The Centre for Health Protection said on Wednesday that the source of the fourth case’s infection was genetically distinct from the previous imported and locally acquired cases.
The fourth locally acquired case is a 68-year-old woman living in Tung Hei Court in Shau Kei Wan. The case came to light after she sought help at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan last week.
“The result [of genome analysis of the patient] indicated that the genetic sequence of her viral sample differed from those of other imported chikungunya fever cases recorded in Hong Kong and the three local chikungunya fever cases in Wong Tai Sin and Tsing Yi, suggesting separate sources of infection,” the centre said.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that an earlier, undiagnosed patient in an area visited by the patient transmitted the virus to mosquitoes, which then infected her.”
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The centre urged residents living in the vicinity of the patient’s residence to seek medical advice or contact it immediately if they had developed symptoms such as a fever, rash or joint pain since October 15.