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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 4) investigating a case of laboratory confirmed Streptococcus suis infection in the Yan Chai Hospital (YCH).
Case details are as follows:
Age: 61
Sex: Male
District of residence: Tsuen Wan
Date of onset: September 29, 2006
Symptoms: headache, fever and neck pain
Present condition: Admitted to YCH on October 1 and is now in stable condition
Travel history: No recent travel history
This is the seventh reported case of Streptococcus suis infection in 2006 and the CHP's investigations are continuing. A total of 13 cases were reported in 2005.
Streptococcus suis infection may present as meningitis (inflammation of the membrane enclosing the brain), septicaemia (blood stream infection), and less commonly endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers), arthritis and bronchopneumonia (a kind of lung infection involving the bronchioles). Streptococcus suis infection could be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
To prevent the disease, people are advised to always observe personal and environmental hygiene and avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or bodily fluids. 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.
People can obtain more information on Streptococcus suis from the CHP website (http://www.chp.gov.hk). They can also obtain the latest information on infectious diseases in other places on the Department's Hong Kong Travellers' Health Service website (http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:18
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