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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 24) investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD).
The female patient, aged 89 with underlying illness, lives in Oi Man Estate, Kowloon City. She has presented with shortness of breath and cough with sputum since December 15. She was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on December 18. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and she is now in critical condition.
Her urine sample tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen upon testing by the hospital. Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had travelled to Shunde on December 12 to 14 and her travel collateral remained asymptomatic.
"Epidemiological investigations into the possible sources of infection are under way. Relevant water samples and environmental swabs will be collected from potential sources for laboratory testing," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"As legionellae are found in various environmental settings and aqueous environments, investigations are ongoing," the spokesman added.
This is the 66th LD case reported to the CHP this year. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively.
Legionellae 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/en/supporting_government_initiatives/legionnaires_disease/publications/codes_of_practice/index.html); and
* The Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/supporting_government_initiatives/legionnaires_disease/publications/general/index.html).
Ends/Thursday, December 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:30
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