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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 5) received a report of a necrotising fasciitis case (flesh-eating disease) involving a 75-year-old woman.
The patient lived in Wong Tai Sin. She developed fever and chills on August 3 and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on August 4.
She was found to have right calf redness and swelling. Blood culture yielded Vibrio Vulnificus, a type of bacteria causing necrotising fasciitis. Her current condition is critical.
A CHP spokesman said necrotising fasciitis was a serious bacterial infection of the soft tissue and fascia. It could destroy tissue and cause death within 12 to 24 hours after infection.
People are reminded to adopt the following preventive measures:
* Avoid exposure of open wounds or broken skin to seawater or salty water;
* Wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and properly covered;
* Wear thick rubber gloves when handling raw shellfish.
Patients should seek medical advice promptly if they developed symptoms and signs of infection like increasing redness, pain and swelling.
Ends/Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:10
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