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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 3) investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease.
The male patient, aged 89, has underlying illnesses. He has presented with fever, cough with sputum and sore throat since November 29 in Kaiping, Guangdong, during his travel from November 14 to yesterday (December 2) and attended a clinic there on November 30. As his condition deteriorated, he returned to Hong Kong yesterday and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) and was then admitted for further management.
The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he is now in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit. His urine specimen tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen upon testing by PYNEH.
His home contact and travel collateral has remained asymptomatic so far.
"We will inform the relevant Mainland health authority," a spokesman for the CHP said.
This is the 63rd LD case reported to the CHP this year. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively.
Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus that support breathing. People may get infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems. They may also get the infection when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
It is most important to operate and maintain properly designed man-made water systems to prevent LD. The public may visit the pages below for more information:
* The CHP's LD page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24307.html);
* The Code of Practice for Prevention of LD of the Prevention of LD Committee, Hong Kong (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/supporting_government_initiatives/legionnaires_disease/publications/codes_of_practice/index.html); and
* The Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/supporting_government_initiatives/legionnaires_disease/publications/general/index.html).
Ends/Thursday, December 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:49
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