Case of Streptococcus suis infection under investigation
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is  investigating a case of laboratory confirmed infection of Streptococcus suis today (December 23), a kind of bacteria isolated from pigs.

     The case involves a 46-year-old man working in Shenzhen. He developed fever, chills and headache on December 10 and had sought medical treatment in Shenzhen. He returned to Hong Kong on December 15 and was admitted to a private hospital in Kowloon. He was transferred to Kwong Wah Hospital for further management today and is now in stable condition.

     This is the sixth reported case of Streptococcus suis infection in 2008. Six cases were reported in 2007, eight in 2006 and 13 in 2005.

     The spokesman said 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 practices and avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or body 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.

     They 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/Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:31

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