After Dongwang was the first to report that a number of people were infected with melioidosis in Hong Kong in recent months, the Department of Health did not announce until yesterday (12th) that a total of 29 human cases of melioidosis were recorded this year. Au Ka-wing, chief physician of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Centre for Health Protection, said this afternoon (13th) that the number of cases of melioidosis in Hong Kong this year has increased from 17 cases last year, but stressed that this is an endemic disease and there are some related cases every year.
Au Ka-wing pointed out that after the epidemiological investigation by the authorities, it was found that there were 15 confirmed cases recently. The patients all lived in the area of Sham Shui Po, and their related symptoms were similar to those of the past cases. It is ruled out that the patient has been to the same place or restaurant, and no connection has been found among the confirmed patients. It is estimated that the patient may have been exposed to the sewage with the virus in the area.
Ou also pointed out that the cases of melioidosis are bacterial infections, with an average of about 10 cases per year in the past five years. The virus may exist in the environment, such as soil and sewage, and it may also easily spread from the soil after wind and rain. He also reminded that older people with chronic diseases are more susceptible to melioidosis. Among the cases in Sham Shui Po, many patients were chronically ill, with a median age of about 70 years old, and they developed pneumonia and sepsis after admission. Happening.
