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As at 3 pm today (September 27), the Department of Health's (DH) hotline 2961 8966 received a total of 607 enquiries on dengue fever.
Most of the calls were general enquiries. 41 callers, being 36 male and five female aged between 19 and 59, worked or lived in Ma Wan. Among them, 16 callers, 14 male and two female aged 20 to 59, were referred to DH's regional offices for blood tests as they developed symptoms of fever earlier. Five other callers (two male and three female aged 29 to 40) who had visited Ma Wan earlier and subsequently found to have fever were also referred to regional offices for blood tests. None was admitted to hospital.
The hotline is manned by healthcare professionals from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday.
DH today confirmed four more local cases of dengue fever, involving a Ma Wan female resident and three men working in a Ma Wan construction site.
The first case involved a 26-year-old man who developed fever, headache, muscle pain and joint pain on August 25.
The second case involved a 20-year-old man who developed fever, headache, joint pain and rash on September 6.
The third case involved a 42-year-old woman who developed fever, joint pain and muscle pain on July 29.
These three persons did not require hospitalization and had recovered. They did not have recent travel history and the cases were classified as local ones.
The fourth case involved a 39-year-old man. He developed fever, headache and joint pain on September 24. He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital today and is in stable condition. He did not have recent travel history.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has taken special anti-mosquito measures in Ma Wan.
A DH spokesman said patients of all 11 local cases of dengue fever confirmed so far involved people working or living in 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 DH's special hotline 2961 8966 for enquiries and health advice.
Members of the public should guard against dengue fever by taking preventive measures against mosquito breeding and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
To-date, 24 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported in Hong Kong this (2002) year. Of these, 13 were imported cases and 11 local cases.
End/Friday, September 27, 2002
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