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The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed a 25-year-old man contracted leptospirosis while overseas. The infectious disease is caused by bacteria found in infected animals' waste.
The man developed fever, vomiting, headache and muscle pain on June 27. He was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on July 8 and discharged on July 13. Lab tests yielded positive for leptospirosis today.
The man had travelled with a friend to Malaysia from June 17 to 21. His friend did not develop any signs of the disease.
This is the second leptospirosis case reported in Hong Kong this year. There was a local case in 2001, two local cases in 2002, one imported case in 2003, one imported and five local cases in 2004, three imported and four local cases in 2005 and two imported and one unclassified cases in 2006.
Antibiotics effective
The bacteria, leptospira, causes the disease, and it can be found in some animals including rodents, cattle, pigs, horses and dogs. Most human infections occur through contact with infected mammals' urine, primarily through skin abrasions, open wounds or mucous membranes, and occasionally through ingestion or inhalation.
The disease is normally not transmissible among people and the incubation period is usually five to 14 days. It can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
To minimise risk of infection, cover open wounds properly and avoid contact with animal urine and polluted water.
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