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    The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received a report of laboratory confirmed Streptococcus suis infection from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) today (August 22).  This added up to a total of 10 Streptococcus suis infection cases reported to CHP in 2005.

Case details are as follows:

Age: 79

Sex: Female

District of residence: Kowloon City

Date of Onset: August 16

Symptoms: Fever, right knee pain, redness and swelling

Present Condition: Admitted to QEH on August 18. Now in critical condition.

Travel history: No recent travel history outside Hong Kong.

Others: Home contact was put under medical surveillance.

    Staff of CHP were contacting the patient, her family and hospital staff for further information.

    Streptococcus suis infection may present as meningitis, septicaemia, and less commonly endocarditis, arthritis and bronchopneumonia.  Streptococcus suis infection could be treated with appropriate antibiotics.

    To prevent the disease, the public are advised to always observe personal and environmental hygiene practices and avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or body fluid. If contact with pigs or raw pork is necessary, one should:

?Use protective gloves;

?Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork; and

?Clean and cover all wounds properly.

    People with suspected symptoms should consult their doctors as soon as possible and report their relevant exposure histories.

    Members of the public can obtain more information on Streptococcus suis from the CHP website (http://www.chp.gov.hk), 24-hour Health Education Hotline at 2833 0111, or latest information on infectious diseases in other places on the Department's Hong Kong Travellers' Health Service website (http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk).

Ends/Monday, August 22, 2005

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