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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 4) investigating a sporadic case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) affecting a man aged 75.
The patient, with underlying illnesses, lives in Jat Min Chuen, Sha Tin, New Territories. He has presented with fever, chills and shortness of breath since August 27 and consulted private doctors on August 28 and 31. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for further management on September 2. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he is now in a critical 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 Shenzhen on August 18 and Chaozhou and Shantou from August 20 to 22. His travel collaterals have remained asymptomatic.
"We are conducting epidemiological investigations into the possible source of infection. Relevant water samples and environmental swabs will be collected from potential sources for laboratory testing. We have provided health advice on LD to the patient," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"As Legionella are found in various environmental settings and aqueous environments, investigations are ongoing," the spokesman added.
This is the 41st LD case reported to the CHP this year. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively.
Legionella are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may get infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems. They may also get the infection when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
It is most important to operate and maintain properly designed man-made water systems to prevent LD. The public may visit the pages below for more information:
* The CHP's LD page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24307.html);
* The Code of Practice for Prevention of LD of the Prevention of LD Committee, Hong Kong (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/oa_ld_pub_cp.shtml); and
* The Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/oa_ld_pub.shtml).
Ends/Friday, September 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:00
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