The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating an imported case of monkeypox and hence the Government has activated the alert level of the preparedness and response plan for monkeypox.

The case involves a man aged 30 who arrived in Hong Kong alone from the Philippines via flight PR300 on September 5 and proceeded to undergo quarantine at designated quarantine hotel the Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View.

The patient developed symptoms including a severe sore throat and difficulty in swallowing in the late evening of September 5. He also developed a skin rash as well as lymphadenopathy in the past week.

The patient has been sent to Queen Mary Hospital and has not entered the local community. He is now in a stable condition. His samples were collected and tested by the centre's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch and the result tested positive today.

An initial investigation revealed that he had also travelled to the US and Canada between August 2 and September 2, and he had high risk exposure during the incubation period. He had not contacted any confirmed patients during his overseas stay and has no close contact in the local community.

As a precautionary measure, crew members and passengers of flight PR300 are advised to watch out for symptoms and seek medical attention if necessary, despite their relatively low risk.

The Government today activated the alert level of the preparedness and response plan for monkeypox, reflecting a low immediate health impact caused by monkeypox on the local population.

Under the alert response level, the Government will take a series of follow-up actions, including enhancing its control and prevention measures in the community by putting potentially exposed people under medical surveillance or quarantine as appropriate. It will also strengthen health surveillance measures at boundary control points and enhance related health education to the public through various means.

The centre has reported the case to the World Health Organization and the relevant Mainland authority. Letters will also be sent to doctors and private hospitals reminding them to pay attention to symptomatic patients seeking consultations without contact history.

The centre also urges the public to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with people or animals suspected of monkeypox infection. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience symptoms including rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches.

The first shipment of the vaccine is expected to arrive in Hong Kong within this month.