*******************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 18) investigating three sporadic cases of Legionnaires' disease.
The first patient is a man aged 85 with underlying illnesses who lives in Chuk Yuen Home for Aged, Ngau Tam Mei, Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, New Territories. He has presented with fever and cough with sputum since September 9 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Pok Oi Hospital on September 12 and was admitted for management. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he has been in stable condition.
His urine specimen tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1) antigen upon testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB). Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no recent travel history.
"Tracing of contacts in the elderly home is ongoing while no other cases have been identified from staff and residents therein. The elderly home has been put under medical surveillance. We have provided health advice against LD to staff and residents, including those with weakened immunity who should use boiled water for drinking, tooth-brushing and mouth-rinsing," a spokesman for the CHP said.
The second case is a woman aged 73 with underlying illnesses who lived in Tsz Hong Estate, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon. She has presented with fever, cough with sputum, shortness of breath and chest pain since September 15 and was admitted to United Christian Hospital (UCH) on the same day. Subsequently, the patient's condition deteriorated and she died today. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia.
Her urine specimen tested positive for Lp1 antigen upon testing by UCH. The patient had no recent travel history and her home contacts have remained asymptomatic.
The remaining case is a male patient aged 75 with underlying illnesses who lives in a private estate on Hoi Fai Road, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon. He has presented with fever, cough and confusion since September 13 and was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital on the same day. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he has been in stable condition.
His urine specimen tested positive for Lp1 antigen upon testing by the PHLSB. The patient visited Shenzhen on September 3 and returned to Hong Kong on the same day. His home contacts have been asymptomatic.
"Epidemiological investigations into the possible source of infection are under way. Relevant water samples and environmental swabs will be collected from potential sources for laboratory testing. Health advice against LD has been given to the patients and their contacts," the spokesman said.
"As Legionella are found in various environmental settings and aqueous environments, investigations are ongoing," the spokesman added.
These are the 44th, 45th and 46th LD cases 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 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:31
NNNN
