The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating today (August 14) four local cases of dengue fever (DF) and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     The first case involves a 17-year-old male patient with good past health, who developed fever, sore throat, myalgia and arthralgia since August 7. He was admitted to Hong Kong Baptist Hospital on August 12 and has developed skin rash over left lower limb after admission. He has all along been in a stable condition and his blood sample tested positive for dengue virus upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lives in Highland Park in Kwai Tsing District. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period. He frequently visited Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground in Lam Tin for baseball game and claimed that a lot of mosquitos were present at the site. However, he did not recall any mosquito bites.

     His home contacts have remained asymptomatic and have been put under medical surveillance.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted site visit and field investigations by questionnaire surveys at the patient's residence. A health talk has been held jointly with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today at the Property Management Office of Highland Park to deliver health advice.

     The second case involves a 78-year-old male patient with underlying illnesses, who developed fever, headache, cough and shortness of breath since August 2. He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on August 4. He has all along been in a stable condition and his blood sample tested positive for dengue virus upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lives in Kwai Shing West Estate in Kwai Tsing District. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period. He frequently visited Clear Water Bay Second Beach for swimming and recalled mosquito bites there.

     His home contact has remained asymptomatic and has been put under medical surveillance.

     The third case involves an 84-year-old female patient with underlying illnesses, who developed dizziness, fever, headache and arthralgia since August 7. She was admitted to St John Hospital on August 8 and was subsequently transferred to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for further management on August 10. She has all along been in a stable condition and her blood sample tested positive for dengue virus upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lives in Hill Side Road in Cheung Chau. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period. She mainly stayed at home and did not recall any mosquito bites.

     Her home contacts have remained asymptomatic and have been put under medical surveillance.

     The fourth case involves a 76-year-old female patient with underlying illness, who developed dizziness, myalgia and unsteady gait since August 8. She was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on August 10 and was noted to have fever and skin rash after admission. She has all along been in a stable condition and her blood sample tested positive for dengue virus upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lives in Tsui Chuk Garden in Wong Tai Sin. She did not recall any mosquito bites. Separately, the patient went hiking at Lion Rock Park and a market near Fung Wong San Tsuen daily.

     Her home contacts have remained asymptomatic and have been put under medical surveillance.

     "We are working closely with the FEHD to assess and prevent any possible spread of infection. The FEHD's vector investigations, surveillance and control will follow. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Home Affairs Department and Hong Kong Baseball Association have also been informed for follow-up. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "In addition, the CHP will conduct site visits to the patients' home and carry out active case finding for the second to fourth cases tomorrow. Joint health talks will also be arranged with the FEHD near the residence of the three cases," the spokesman said.

     Persons who have been to the vicinity of Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground, Highland Park, Kwai Shing West Estate, Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Hill Side Road, Tsui Chuk Garden, Fung Wong San Tsuen and Lion Rock Park with DF symptoms should call the CHP's hotline (2125 1122) operating from 6pm to 9pm today and 9am to 5.45pm tomorrow onwards for laboratory investigation or referral as appropriate.

     "We have informed the Guangdong and Macau health authorities and will issue letters to local doctors and hospitals to alert them to the latest situation," the spokesman added.

     These are the first four local cases recorded this year. Excluding these cases, as of August 9, 55 imported cases had been recorded in 2018, including 25 from Thailand, 10 from the Philippines and seven from Cambodia.

     In the rainy season, the public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days (DF) or at least 21 days (Zika Virus Infection) upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor. DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the DF pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the FEHD's Guidebook on Control and Prevention of Mosquito Breeding for more information.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department announced that due to typhoon, the cross boundary ferry services at ferry terminals between Hong Kong and Macau as well as between Hong Kong and Mainland China are temporarily suspended.

    The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident in Tuen Mun this afternoon (August 14) in which a man died.

    The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) jointly held a sharing session on the investment environment of overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones today (August 14) to promote collaboration with state-owned enterprises (SoEs) for Belt and Road opportunities.

     The session provided a platform for SoEs to share their experiences in developing overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones, and to facilitate business collaboration with Hong Kong enterprises as well as professional services for exploring opportunities together.

     Led by the Secretary General of the SASAC, Mr Yan Xiaofeng, a delegation comprising over 40 representatives of the SASAC and SoEs joined the sharing session. Together with more than 200 local participants, including representatives/enterprises from chambers of commerce as well as professional bodies, they had in-depth and pragmatic discussions on participation in the Belt and Road projects, particularly those relating to the development of overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, and Mr Yan spoke at the sharing session.

     Mr Yau said, "The overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones are ideal set-off points for our enterprises and those in the Mainland to join forces in tapping Belt and Road markets. Being architects, investors and leaders in implementing the Initiative, many SoEs have been involved in the investment, design, planning, construction, promotion and operation of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones. They have facilitated corporations' investment and market expansion.

     "By leveraging our distinctive edge in such professional services as finance and investment, trade and logistics, legal, accounting, engineering and management, as well as local enterprises' past experience, Hong Kong professional services can contribute to the development of overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones and work together with SoEs to pursue new opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative."

     He said that at present, many local business people are interested in the Initiative, yet they may only have a limited understanding of some of the countries and regions along the Belt and Road. With rules and regulations that Hong Kong businesses are accustomed to, local enterprises can consider making use of overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones to expand their Belt and Road business footing.

     Mr Yau added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is adopting a multi-pronged approach in taking forward the Belt and Road Initiative, with a view to translating the Initiative into business opportunities. Such efforts include jointly organising sharing sessions and exchanges with various sectors, organising business missions to different regions to facilitate better understanding and exploring of the enormous potential being offered under the Belt and Road Initiative, and supporting the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in enhancing its Belt and Road Portal to promote business and project matching.

     The Government is also encouraging professional bodies, tertiary institutions and trade associations to join hands to launch a professional capacity building programme in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. The programme should provide more comprehensive capacity building and training for the local professional services sectors, and better equip them to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges and risks brought about by the Initiative.

     At the sharing session, representatives from three SoEs shared their experience in developing overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones in different regions and provided information about the investment environment there, including the investment policies as well as the tax and legal systems. They were the Director of the China Merchants Group Limited, Mr Hu Jianhua; the Vice President of China Communications Construction Company Limited, Mr Sun Ziyu; and the Board Chairman of China National Building Materials Group Corporation Limited, Mr Song Zhiping. In addition, the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Mr Jimmy Kwok; Permanent Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles Mr Henry Tan; and the Vice-chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, Ms Connie Wong, shared their views on Hong Kong enterprises' expansion to overseas markets and operation in Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones.

      

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited the Elderly Health Centre (EHC) and Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) under the Department of Health (DH) today (August 14) to learn more about their services for elders, infants, young children and women. He also met front-line staff of the department.
      
     Accompanied by the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, Mr Cheung started the visit from the Wan Chai Elderly Health Centre at Southorn Centre and received a briefing from officers on services provided by the Elderly Health Service, including clinical, outreach and public health services.
      
     Mr Cheung then toured facilities of the centre and was briefed about its services for the elderly, including health assessment, medical consultation, counselling, health education and allied health services. The DH provides primary health care services for the elderly aged 65 and above through its 18 EHCs.
      
     Mr Cheung pointed out that Hong Kong was facing an ageing population and thus provision of elderly health service would be particularly important. He was pleased to learn that the centres adopted a cross-disciplinary approach to provide primary health care for the elderly under a family medicine setting. The purpose is to help the elderly identify health risks and detect disease early for timely intervention with a view to promoting healthy ageing and improving the elderly's self-care ability.
      
     Mr Cheung then visited the Tang Chi Ngong Maternal and Child Health Centre at Tang Chi Ngong Specialist Clinic where he received briefings on various services provided by the 31 MCHCs under the DH. The services include child health services, maternal services, family planning service and Cervical Screening Programme.
      
     Mr Cheung commended the MCHCs for providing immunization vaccination services for infants and young children, as well as child health and developmental surveillance, including physical examination, growth and developmental monitoring as well as hearing and vision screening which had laid an important foundation for our next generation.
      
     During the visit, Mr Cheung also met with front-line officers to learn more about their daily work. He also encouraged them to keep up their professionalism and dedication to serve the public.