Hong Kong has recorded a surge in cases of a life-threatening bacterial infection in the first four months of this year, prompting a leading infectious disease expert to call on the public to consider vaccination when travelling.
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Asian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases president Dr Mike Kwan Yat-wah said Hong Kong had reported five invasive meningococcal infections so far in 2025, matching last year’s annual figure.
The five cases included a fatality, a 73-year-old man with chronic diseases.
“If the city has an asymptomatic patient, the disease can spread in the community easily,” Kwan warned.
“Apart from the government, healthcare professionals and doctors should proactively provide more information for residents to understand more about the disease and undertake precautionary measures.”
The infection, caused by the meningococcus bacterium, can result in a high fever, a severe headache, a stiff neck, vomiting, rashes or even death.