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As at 12 noon today (September 28), the Department of Health's (DH) hotline 2961 8966 received a total of 634 enquiries on dengue fever.
Most of the calls were general enquiries. 45 callers, being 40 male and five female aged between 19 and 59, worked or lived in Ma Wan. Among them, 19 callers, 17 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.
The hotline is manned by healthcare professionals during office hours. After office hours, members of the public may get pre-recorded message on dengue fever by dialing DH's Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
DH today confirmed one more local case of dengue fever involving a 60-year-old male resident of Ma Wan who developed fever, headache, bone pain and rash in mid-August. He did not require hospitalisation and had recovered.
A DH spokesman said patients of all 12 local cases of dengue fever confirmed so far involved people working or living in Ma Wan. DH is closely monitoring the situation.
"Members of the public should guard against dengue fever by taking preventive measures against mosquito bite and active elimination of mosquito breeding sites.
"People who have symptoms like fever, severe headache, myalgia, arthralgia and rash should consult a doctor," the spokesman said.
To-date, 25 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported in Hong Kong this (2002) year. Of these, 13 were imported cases and 12 local cases.
End/Saturday, September 28, 2002
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