Update on measles cases

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 4) investigating seven additional cases of measles infection of which two are workers at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

​     As at 4pm today, two cases involving HKIA workers, one male and one female, were recorded. The first case involves a 23-year-old man with good past health, who developed fever since March 30 and rash since April 1. He sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) at Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) on March 31 and the AED at North Lantau Hospital (NLH) on the next day, and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital (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 had received three doses of measles vaccinations. He had no travel history during the incubation period or the communicable period.

     The second case involves a 24-year-old woman with good past health, who developed rash since April 2. She sought medical attention at a general practitioner and attended the AED at PWH on the same day and was admitted for treatment. A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She has been in a stable condition. She had received three doses of measles vaccination. She had travelled to Taipei during the incubation period but had no travel history during the communicable period.
    
     Meanwhile, the CHP is investigating five other case of measles infection. The third case involves a 31-year-old man with good past health, who developed fever and rash since March 30. He sought medical attention at a general practitioner on the same day and attended the AED at Tin Shui Wai Hospital (TSWH) on the next day and was transferred to Pok Oi Hospital for admission and treatment. 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 Shenzhen during the incubation period and the communicable period.
 
     The fourth case involves a 31-year-old man with good past health, who developed fever since March 30 and rash since April 2. He sought medical attention at a general practitioner on April 2. He then attendedthe AED at Queen Mary Hospital  on April 2 and 3 respectively and was admitted for treatment on April 3. 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 Vietnam during the incubation period but had no travel history during the communicable period.
 
     The fifth case involves a 22-year-old man with good past health, who developed fever since March 30 and rash since April 1. He sought medical attention at the AED at Caritas Medical Centre and then at the AED at PMH on April 2 and was admitted for treatment at PMH 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 had received one dose of measles vaccination. He had travelled to Japan during the incubation period and had travelled to Macao during the communicable period.
 
     The sixth case involves an 11-month-old baby boy with good past health, who developed fever since March 28 and rash since April 1. He was taken to the AED at United Christian Hospital on April 1 for medical attention 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. The patient is not yet suitable for measles vaccination. He had lived in Shenzhen during the incubation period and had no travel history during the communicable period.

       The seventh case involves a 2-year-old girl with good past health, who developed fever on March 30 and rash since March 31. She was taken to the AED at TSWH for medical advice on March 31 and was transferred to PMH for admission and management on the next day. A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She has been in a stable condition. She had received one dose of measles vaccination. She had no travel history during the incubation period but had travelled to Shenzhen during the communicable period.
 
     According to all 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.

​     Upon notification of the cases, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. 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 93 persons received measles vaccination at the vaccination stations as at 5pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 7,878. Eight blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results. 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 2,824 enquiries.

     From tomorrow to next Friday (April 5 to 12), the vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 500 doses daily. Vaccination to eligible airport staff will be provided 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 venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:
   

 
     As for the blood test service, the DH will continue with the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff to identify those who need the measles vaccination. From next Monday to Friday (April 8 to 12), the DH will provide blood test service daily to around 100 airport staff who were born in or after 1967, with priority to be given to staff belonging to target group (1). The blood test service will be suspended from tomorrow to Sunday (April 5 to 7).
 
     The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station are as follows: