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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received a report of laboratory confirmed Streptococcus suis infection from the United Christian Hospital today (July 26).
Case details are as follows:
Age: 80
Sex: Male
District of residence: Ngau Tau Kok
Date of onset: July 16, 2006
Symptoms: fever and abdominal pain
Present condition: Admitted to United Christian Hospital on July 16 and discharged on July 20.
Travel history: No recent travel history.
Others: His family members have no symptoms and are being put under medical surveillance by CHP.
This is the third reported case of Streptococcus suis infection in 2006 and CHP's investigations are continuing. A total of 13 cases were reported in 2005.
Streptococcus suis infection may present as meningitis (inflammation of the membrane enclosing the brain), septicaemia (blood stream infection), and less commonly endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers), arthritis and bronchopneumonia (a kind of lung infection involving the bronchioles). Streptococcus suis infection could be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
To prevent the disease, the public is advised to always observe personal and environmental hygiene practices and avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or body fluids. If contact with pigs or raw pork is necessary, one should:
* Use protective gloves;
* Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork; and
* Clean and cover all wounds properly.
People with suspected symptoms should consult their doctors as soon as possible and report their relevant exposure histories.
Members of the public can obtain more information on Streptococcus suis from the CHP website (http://www.chp.gov.hk). They can also access the latest information on infectious diseases in other places on the Department's Hong Kong Travellers' Health Service website (http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:35
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