The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today recorded one new local case of chikungunya fever (CF) involving a 68-year-old woman living in Shau Kei Wan.

A preliminary investigation revealed that she developed joint pain on Monday, and a fever and rash the following day.

She sought medical attention at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital’s accident and emergency department on Tuesday. Her blood sample tested positive for the chikungunya virus.

According to preliminary information, the patient had no travel history in the past two months.

The patient's residence and usual activity areas do not overlap with areas where imported or local cases have been recorded in recent months.

The CHP will carry out a genome analysis to ascertain whether the patient has epidemiological linkage with other cases in Hong Kong.

Together with the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, the CHP inspected various locations in the vicinity of the patient's residence and conducted mosquito control operations today with a view to minimising the risk of local transmission.

The CHP will set up a health consultation booth on 2/F, Hing Tung Shopping Centre, Shau Kei Wan from tomorrow to provide assessments to residents with relevant symptoms.

The inquiry hotline 2125 2373, which was set up earlier, will continue to operate daily from 9am to 6pm.

As of 5pm today, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 61 confirmed CF cases this year, four of them were local, and the rest were imported.