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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health was notified by the Hospital Authority this week of two confirmed cases of typhoid fever, bringing to 17 the total number of cases of this kind, including an imported one, reported to the CHP since November 25, 2005.
The two cases involved a man and a woman, both aged 28, who lived in Sheung Shui and Yuen Long respectively.
In addition, there is a suspected case involving a 22-year-old woman in Yuen Long.
Among the two confirmed cases, the man developed fever, chills and abdominal pain in end of November, 2005 and is being under treatment in North District Hospital. The woman developed fever and abdominal pain on January 4 this year and was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on January 9. Both of them are in stable condition. Laboratory test on blood samples taken from them yielded positive results for Salmonella typhi.
Initial investigations revealed that both of them have no recent travel history. The man did not go to Yuen Long within the month prior to onset.
The suspected case had disease onset on December 26, 2005, and symptoms included fever and skin rash. She was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on January 11 this year. She is now in stable condition.
A CHP spokesman said bacteria from 10 of the typhoid cases since November 25, 2005, showed the same DNA fingerprinting, including nine cases living in Yuen Long and one case from Tuen Mun that had visited Yuen Long.
"The CHP and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) are investigating any possible linkages between the newly notified cases living in Yuen Long district and other previous cases in Yuen Long.
"Investigations focusing on possible common food vehicles or food handlers among these cases are ongoing," the spokesman added.
FEHD continued to step up enforcement actions against illegal food hawkers in Yuen Long District. These operations will reduce the chance of typhoid fever spreading before more definitive investigation results are available.
Of the 650 samples taken from all these cases for laboratory testing, 546 yielded negative result for Salmonella typhi. The remaining samples are being tested, he noted.
A total of six cases have been reported so far this year while the figures for 2001 to 2005 are 67, 67, 49, 53 and 36 respectively.
As typhoid fever is usually transmitted by consuming food and water contaminated by feces or urine of patients or carriers, the spokesman called on members of the public in particular food handlers to take the following measures:
* Wash hands properly with soap and water before eating or handling food.
* Clean, wash and cook food thoroughly.
* Wash fruits and vegetables before consumption.
* Do not handle cooked food with bare hands; wear gloves if necessary.
* Handle and store raw and cooked food especially seafood separately to avoid cross contamination.
* Purchase fresh food from reliable sources. Do not buy cooked food from illegal hawkers.
Ends/Thursday, January 12, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:35
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