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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is keeping a close watch on two cases of pneumonic plague in Linzhi, Xizang Province.
A CHP spokesman said today (October 1) that information from the Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed that the two cases involved a couple who developed symptoms of plague on September 14 and 23 respectively. The 35-year-old husband passed away on September 20 and her 38-year-old wife died on September 25.
"We are maintaining close liaison with MOH in order to obtain more information on the cases," the spokesman said.
Staff of the Department of Health's Port Health Office has also alerted the travel industry about the report.
Plague is primarily an infection of rodents. It is transmitted from an infected animal, mainly rodent, to man through the bite of an infected animal's flea. People can also contract plague when cuts or other breaks in their skin come into contact with the body fluid or tissue of infected animals.
Pneumonic plague is a kind of plague which is highly contagious. It can spread between humans by inhalation of respiratory droplets from an infected person. The incubation period of the disease is between one and four days.
Symptoms of pneumonic plague include fever, chills, cough with blood-stained sputum, shortness of breath and may die rapidly if not treated immediately.
The spokesman reminded people who had a need to travel to areas with plague report to be vigilant and to observe precautionary measures including wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers to avoid being bitten by flea and applying insect repellent.
"They should seek medical attention immediately if they are feeling unwell," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:54
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