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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is investigating three suspected local dengue fever cases involving the three family members of the 46-year-old man who was earlier confirmed with dengue fever acquired in Hong Kong.
The three family members are the man's 47-year-old wife and his sons aged 18 and eight respectively. Their blood specimens obtained by CHP today (September 24) have shown positive results for Dengue virus IgM this evening. Confirmatory tests are being conducted.
The two sons developed fever in early September, while the female patient recalled today that she also had headache and skin rashes in early September.
Their domestic helper was tested negative for the virus.
As for the suspected local case involving a two-year-old girl, CHP is arranging further confirmatory tests. Screening blood tests for her father and two sisters, aged nine months and two respectively, are also being arranged.
CHP has today conducted field visits to ESF International Kindergarten (Hillside) and Bradbury School, where the girl and the eight-year-old boy studied, and distributed questionnaires. So far, none of their classmates reported symptomatic. Blood tests will be arranged with the parents' consent.
Meanwhile, CHP's investigation continued in the vicinity of the patients'residence at Island Road, Deep Water Bay and Stubbs Road where the two schools were located. Information from around 400 persons were successfully obtained by either questionnaire or interview. Nobody reported active symptoms during CHP's investigation.
As at today, blood samples from 66 persons were taken for laboratory analysis. Results are pending.
A spokesman said CHP was highly concerned about the above cases. A health talk about dengue fever will be held jointly with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department this Sunday (September 26) afternoon at Stanley Bay Community Hall, Southern District to brief members of the public about the means of infection, symptoms and preventive measures of the disease.
As at 5pm today, CHP's hotline (2125 1122) has received a total of 23 enquiries.
Investigation continues.
Ends/Friday, September 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:10
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