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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 17) investigating a sporadic case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) affecting a man aged 70.
The patient, with good past health, lives in Yan On Estate, Ma On Shan, New Territories. He has presented with fever and cough with sputum since August 8. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) today and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for further management. The clinical diagnosis is pneumonia and he is now in serious condition.
His urine specimen tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen upon testing by PWH.
Initial enquiries revealed that, during the incubation period, the patient had travelled to Guangdong from August 1 to 5 and then stayed in Hong Kong before onset. His home contact has remained asymptomatic.
"We are working with relevant department for epidemiological investigations into the possible source of infection. Relevant water samples and environment swabs will be collected from potential sources for laboratory testing. We have provided health advice on LD to his family," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"As Legionella bacteria can be widely found in the environment, investigations are ongoing," the spokesman remarked.
This is the 35th LD case reported to the CHP this year. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively.
The public may visit the CHP's LD page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24307.html) for more information and corresponding preventive advice.
Ends/Monday, August 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:42
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