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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is investigating two deaths among local pig farmers dying of a pneumonic illness during the past six months.
The Consultant (Community Medicine) of CHP, Dr Thomas Tsang, today (December 28) said that CHP attached great importance to the cases and is liaising closely with relevant parties, including the Hospital Authority (HA), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), and the Mainland health authorities.
One of the cases involved a 44-year-old man who lived in Sheung Shui and presented with fever and cough on December 7. He was admitted to North District Hospital on December 11 and died of pneumonia-like illness on December 13. He had a travel history to Dongguan about 20 days before onset of symptoms, but an association between this travel and his illness cannot be established at this moment.
Another case was a 62-year-old man, who lived in Tsuen Wan, developed influenza-like illness and was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital in end of May. He died of pneumonia on June 4. CHP is following up on his travel history before onset of illness.
Laboratory investigations in hospitals so far did not identify specific bacteria or viruses causing pneumonia in these two cases. Further investigations are needed to ascertain the nature of a possible infectious illness and any relation between pigs.
Initial investigations by CHP revelaed that five family members of the 44-year-old patient and a worker at his pig farm did not have any symptoms. Family members of the 62-year-old patient were being followed up. Arrangements were being made to take blood samples from them for further analysis.
The CHP has also followed up on a pig farmer acquaintance of the first case whom he had visited in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in early December. This acquaintance had pre-existing lung disease and kidney problems and had been hospitalized in QEH since end of October. His clinical presentation was different from that of the above patients.
Dr Tsang appealed to pig farmers who have suffered from pneumonia-like illness and required hospitalization any time from June 1, 2006 onwards to call a special hotline 2125 1133 during office hours for follow-up action by healthcare staff.
He said that CHP had been liaising with the Mainland health authorities for exchange of information.
A meeting will be held tomorrow (December 29) between Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, CHP, AFCD, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and HA to discuss these cases and further collaborative measures deemed necessary.
Ends/Thursday, December 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:47
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