High concern over encephalitis case

(July 22, 2017)

The Centre for Health Protection and the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service are very concerned about the first local case of Japanese encephalitis transmitted by a blood transfusion.
 
Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan made the statement to the media today, saying this is the first such case in the world in the past 40 years.
 
However in terms of blood transfusions, it is very difficult to test for the virus as there is no routine testing for Japanese encephalitis before blood donation, she added.
 
Prof Chan said health authorities will continue to investigate.
 
“I am sure that the Hospital Authority and the Centre for Health Protection will be looking into the case in more detail.”