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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 18) urged members of the public to maintain good environmental and personal hygiene to prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection.
The appeal was made after the CHP received a report of an invasive Hib case involving a 10-month-old baby girl.
The patient, with good past health, lives with her family on the Mainland. She presented with fever, vomiting and malaise since January 9. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital on January 12 and was admitted on the same day. She was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for monitoring on January 14. She is now in a general ward. Her condition has always been stable.
Her blood specimen grew Haemophilus influenzae serotype b.
Hib is a germ that infrequently causes invasive disease in young children. The risk of invasive disease among older people is even lower.
Invasive Hib disease commonly presents as infection of membranes covering the brain (meningitis), often accompanied by the germs entering the bloodstream. It may also affect other parts of the body, such as the lungs, upper part of the throat, joints and bones. Prompt antibiotic treatment is usually effective in curing the infection.
Hib infection has been a statutory notifiable disease since July 14, 2008. This is the first Hib case in 2012. One case was reported in 2011.
To prevent Hib infection, members of the public are advised to observe personal hygiene and adopt the following measures:
* Maintain hand hygiene and clean hands properly;
* Wash hands when they are soiled with respiratory secretions e.g. after sneezing or coughing;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal discharge and sputum properly;
* Do not share eating and drinking utensils and wash them thoroughly after use; and
* Avoid going to crowded places if not feeling well.
Ends/Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:54
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