Update on measles cases

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 3) investigating four additional cases of measles infection of which two are workers at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), one is healthcare worker and one is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case announced earlier on.

​     The first case involves a 45-year-old woman with good past health, who developed headache and myalgia since March 31, fever and rash since April 1 and cough since April 2. She sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) at North Lantau Hospital (NLH) on April 1, and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for admission and treatment on the same day. A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She has been in a stable condition with unknown vaccination history. She had no travel history during the incubation period or the communicable period.

     The second case involves a 31-year-old man with good past health, who developed fever, headache and myalgia since March 26 and rash since March 30. He attended Out-patient Clinic at St Teresa's Hospital on March 30 and April 1. He sought medical attention at the AED at NLH on April 2 and was transferred to PMH for admission and treatment on the same day. A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition. He reported to have measles vaccination. He had travelled to Cambodia during the incubation period and the communicable period.
    
     The third case involves a 27-year-old man with good past health, who developed cough and headache since March 27 and rash since March 31. He sought medical attention at the AED at Prince of Wales Hospital on April 1 and was admitted for treatment. A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition with unknown vaccination history. He had no travel history during the incubation period and the communicable period.

    According to the first two patients, they did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. Their home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance. For the third case, he is the father of a previously confirmed case (8-month-old baby boy) announced on March 27.
 
     The fourth case involves a 23-year-old healthcare worker with good past health, who developed fever and rash since April 1. He consulted a general practitioner (GP) on March 30 and another GP on April 1. He then sought medical attention at the AED at PMH on the same day and was admitted for treatment. A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition. He had received two doses of measles vaccination and had no travel history during the incubation period or the communicable period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance. The CHP will work closely with Hospital Authority on the source investigation and contact tracing.

​     Upon notification of the cases, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing, including the crew member and passengers of the relevant cabin of the concerned flight. Initial investigations revealed that no contact has shown measles-related symptoms so far. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patients visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.

     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Members of the general public who have visited the public places listed in the appendix during the period should observe if they develop relevant symptoms, such as fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes in seven to 21 days (the medical surveillance period). If symptoms arise, they should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," a spokesman for the DH said.

     Upon confirmation of measles outbreak, the DH has implemented control measures at the airport including vaccination and blood testing services. A total of 118 persons received measles vaccination at the vaccination stations as at 5pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 7,770. A hotline (2125 1122) has been set up for public enquiries and operates from 9am to 5.45pm daily. As of 5pm today, the hotline had received a total of 2,728 enquiries. Nine blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results.

     The vaccination quota for the measles vaccination stations at the airport is set at 500 doses daily. Eligible airport staff will be limited to the following target groups:

(1) Born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before, and with evidence of living with infants under 1 year old or living with pregnant women; or

(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).

     Details of evidence are as follows:

(a) Supporting documents for living with infants under 1-year-old: for example birth certificate, discharge summary or vaccination card of the infant
(b) Supporting documents for living with pregnant women: for example, positive pregnancy tests or antenatal follow-up cards of the pregnant women
(c) Supporting documents for laboratory evidence: for example blood results from the DH's measles serology test or any laboratory within the past 12 months

     The vaccination arrangements at the airport vaccination stations tomorrow are as follows:
 

   
     In addition, the DH will continue with the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff belonging to target group (1) to identify those who need measles vaccination. Tomorrow's blood test service will be able to provide to around 100 airport staff. 

      The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station tomorrow are as follows: