************************************

The Department of Health (DH) today (September 24) urged members of the public to be on guard against dengue fever by taking preventive measures against mosquito breeding and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

The appeal was made following the confirmation of three more local cases of dengue fever and an imported case of dengue fever.

A local case of dengue fever involved a 32-year-old woman living in Ma Wan. She had her blood sample taken during a visit by DH staff to Ma Wan on September 22. She developed fever, headache and muscle pain in July and has recovered. As she did not have recent travel history, the case was classified as a local dengue fever case.

Another local case of dengue fever involved a 39-year-old male worker of a construction site in Ma Wan. He had his blood sample taken during a visit by DH staff to the construction site in Ma Wan on September 23. He developed fever, headache and joint pain on September 8. He has recovered. The case was classified as a local dengue fever case. He lives in Yuen Long.

The third new local case of dengue fever involved a 42-year-old female worker of a construction site in Ma Wan. She was found to have symptoms of fever, headache and muscle pain on September 19. She was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on September 22 and is now in stable condition. As she did not have recent travel history, the case was classified as a local dengue fever case. The patient lives in Sha Tin.

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has taken special anti-mosquito measures in their neighbourhood.

A DH spokesman said patients of all six local cases of dengue fever confirmed so far were either workers of the construction site or nearby resident. Their onset dates of the disease occurred before September 20 when FEHD started mosquito control action. At present, there is no evidence that the infection has gone beyond Ma Wan. DH is closely monitoring the situation.

Persons working or living in Ma Wan since June 1, 2002 and had symptoms like fever, severe headache, muscle pain, joint pain and rash are advised to call a special hotline 2961 8966 set up by DH for enquiries and health advice.

As for the imported case, a 22-year-old female with travel history was admitted to Ruttonjee Hospital in early September because of fever, muscle pain and rash. She was discharged and has recovered. She lives in Central and Western District.

To-date, 18 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported in Hong Kong this (2002) year. Of these, 12 were imported cases and six local cases.

End/Tuesday, September 24, 2002

NNNN