Centre for Health Protection Community Medicine Consultant Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan has urged the public to take precautions against mosquito-transmitted diseases, after the year's second local Japanese encephalitis case was confirmed today.
Dr Chuang told the media the case involves a 35-year-old woman who is in stable condition. She fell ill on July 4 and was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on July 14.
She lives in Shap Pat Heung, Yuen Long, and had been bitten by mosquitoes. Her home contacts are asymptomatic.
The disease is caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, mainly the Culex tritaeniorhynchus species. The mosquito usually gets the virus from biting pigs or wild birds.
Dr Chuang said the patient’s neighbours will be interviewed and invited to a talk to learn about the illness and how to prevent it.
The centre will notify doctors to watch for the disease.
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