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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 10) investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) affecting a man aged 78 living in Shenzhen.
The patient, with underlying illnesses, has presented with fever, cough with sputum and shortness of breath since August 3. He attended a hospital in Shenzhen on August 8, and was discharged and returned to Hong Kong on August 9. The patient was admitted to North District Hospital on the same day for management. The clinical diagnosis is pneumonia and he is in stable condition.
His urine sample tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen upon laboratory testing by Prince of Wales Hospital.
Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lives in Shenzhen all along during the incubation period. His home contact remains asymptomatic. Investigations are proceeding.
This is 32nd LD cases reported to the CHP this year. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively.
The public may visit the CHP's LD page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/2117.html) for more information and corresponding preventive advice.
Ends/Monday, August 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:31
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