The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 25) provided updates on its epidemiological investigations into a local case of COVID-19 involving the L452R mutant strain.
As part of the epidemiology investigations that the CHP has been proactively conducting, genetic sequencing was performed for case 11902 involving the L452R mutant strain (a 27-year-old male patient). The genetic analysis by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the DH revealed that the mutant strain belongs to the Delta mutant strain. The PHLSB compared the sequence of this case to the genomes from the previous confirmed cases reported in Hong Kong, and the result revealed that the genomes from case 11902 were identical to the genomes of three previous imported cases (cases 11877, 11878 and 11881).
The three imported cases arrived in Hong Kong from Indonesia via CX798 in the morning of June 11 and all cases were detected to have the L452R mutant strain. Two of them tested positive by their specimens collected at the DH's Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) in Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). According to the CHP's preliminary investigations, case 11902 had received cargo flight crews at HKIA and had stayed in TSCC for work in the morning on the same day.
The CHP is following up further on the possible mode of transmission amongst the relevant cases. The CHP's other epidemiological investigations of the above case and contact tracing are continuing.
Follow this news feed: East Asia