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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a suspected outbreak of rubella involving three Indonesian domestic helpers who attended a church in Causeway Bay.
The CHP received notification from Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and private doctors about three rubella cases involving Indonesian domestic helpers, aged 27, 32 and 34 respectively. Laboratory tests on the 34-year-old patient's blood samples yielded positive result for rubella virus.
All of them are in stable condition. No hospitalisation is needed. Their home contacts are all asymptomatic.
Upon epidemiological investigation, CHP found that the trio attended the same church before and during the onset of symptoms. An operation was mounted today (October 16), in which a health talk was delivered. Questionnaires were distributed to attendees to assess whether there were other persons with infection.
A spokesman for the CHP said, "Immunisation was offered to those in need. Blood test was offered to those who had symptoms.
"The CHP has identified 11 people with symptoms and conducted blood tests on them."
CHP's investigation continues.
The spokesman explained that rubella infection, also known as "German Measles", is a highly infectious disease caused by Rubella virus. It can be transmitted by contact with secretions from nose and pharynx of infected persons through droplet spread or direct contact with patients from one week before to at least four days after the onset of symptoms. Incubation ranges from 14 to 23 days.
As for symptoms, children usually present with a diffuse rash and enlargement of lymph nodes, but adults may experience a one-to-five day history of low-grade fever, headache, malaise, mild cough and conjunctivitis followed by a skin rash as in children. Rubella infection also produces anomalies in the developing fetus, leading to congenital rubella syndrome which is characterised by deafness, eye lesions, heart malformations and mental retardation in infants born to women who got infected during the first three months of pregnancy.
The spokesman said that immunisation with rubella vaccine is effective in preventing the disease. He urged those who are not immunised, especially child-bearing age women, to check their immunity status before pregnancy and receive rubella vaccine accordingly.
Members of the public are advised to take necessary prevention measures as follows:
1. Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene.
2. Maintain good indoor ventilation.
3. Keep hands clean and wash hands properly.
4. Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g., after sneezing.
5. Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly.
6. Cleanse used toys and furniture properly.
7. Affected persons should stay away from school for seven days from the appearance of rash and avoid contact with pregnant women, because pregnant women who do not have immunity to rubella would contract the disease and their fetus could also be affected as well. Therefore, close pregnant contacts should be traced and their immunity status checked.
Ends/Sunday, October 16, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:31
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