The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announces today (August 20) the laboratory testing results on the local cases of dengue fever (DF). According to the latest testing results, the CHP assessed the source of infection of the two local cases of DF in Cheung Chau to be the same.
The CHP has continued to conduct genetic sequencing of the virus of the local cases of DF. For the Cheung Chau case (52-year-old male patient) announced on Sunday, laboratory testing revealed that the genetic sequence of the virus is highly similar to that of the first Cheung Chau case (84-year-old female patient) announced on August 14. As a result, repeat testing was undertaken on the case and it was revealed that the 52-year-old male patient’s blood sample was positive for dengue virus serotype 1 (instead of serotype 3).
In addition, among the four local cases of DF recorded on Saturday, testing revealed that the genetic sequence of the virus of one case (63-year-old female patient) was identical to the eight cases earlier, while the virus of one case (55-year-old male patient) could not be sequenced. For the remaining two cases (69-year-old female patient and 61-year-old male patient), the sequencing results are pending.
A spokesman of the CHP apologised for the confusion and inconvenience caused by the error in laboratory testing result of the second Cheung Chau case and will investigate to prevent reoccurrence of similar laboratory incidents in future.
“The CHP, together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), will conduct a health talk at 11am on Thursday (August 23) at 1/F of Cheung Chau Municipal Services Building to deliver health advice to the public. In addition, the CHP has also provided information and details of the patients’ residences and points of visit of the local DF cases on the CHP’s designated webpage for DF to facilitate handy access of information for the public,” the spokesman said.
“The CHP has issued letters again today to local doctors and hospitals to alert them to the latest situation of local DF and remind them to enhance surveillance. The CHP has also issued letters to schools and institutions to remind them to step up mosquito control and prevention measures,” the spokesman added.
The CHP again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel. The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the DF pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the FEHD’s Guidebook on Control and Prevention of Mosquito Breeding for more information.
Issued at HKT 22:12
衞生署衞生防護中心今日（八月二十日）公布本地登革熱個案實驗室化驗結果，根據最新的化驗結果，中心評估長洲兩宗本地登革熱個案病人的感染源頭相同。
衞生防護中心為過去公布本地登革熱個案的病毒基因進行排序。就周日公布的長洲個案（52歲男病人），實驗室化驗顯示其病毒基因序列與八月十四日公布的第一宗長洲個案（84歲女病人）高度相近，故實驗室再次就個案進行化驗。進一步的實驗室化驗顯示，該名52歲男病人對登革熱病毒血清一型（而非三型）呈陽性反應。
至於周六公布的四宗本地登革熱個案當中，一宗個案（63歲女病人）的病毒基因序列與早前八宗個案相同、未能為病毒基因進行排序個案佔一宗（55歲男病人），其餘兩宗個案（69歲女病人及61歲男病人）的基因序列結果則有待確定。
衞生防護中心發言人對有關第二宗長洲個案的實驗室化驗結果錯誤所引起的信息混亂和不便致歉，並會調查事件，以避免將來再次發生同類型實驗室事故。
發言人表示：「中心與食物環境衞生署將於星期四（八月二十三日）上午十一時在長洲市政大廈一樓舉行健康講座，為市民講解健康建議。此外，中心亦已在中心登革熱專頁內，提供有關本地個案的資料及患者住處和曾到訪地點，以助市民掌握資訊。」
發言人補充：「中心今日已再次發信予本地醫生和醫院，提醒他們留意本地登革熱的最新情況，加強監測，並去信學校及院舍提醒他們加強防蚊控蚊措施。」
中心再次呼籲市民，不論在本地或外遊，應時刻注意環境衞生，以及採取防蚊和個人保護措施。市民如發現蚊患，應致電1823，亦可參閱衞生防護中心及旅遊健康服務登革熱專頁、最新旅遊情報、使用昆蟲驅避劑的注意事項、衞生防護中心Facebook專頁及YouTube頻道，以及食環署防治蚊子滋生指南，了解詳情。
香港時間22時10分