Streptococcus suis infections in Sichuan have grown to 205, with 42 laboratory confirmed. Among the patients, 37 have died and 18 have been discharged from hospital.

The Centre for Health Protection reminded the public to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene, particularly when travelling in rural areas, and to see a doctor if symptoms appear.

For the latest information on disease outbreaks in other places and preventive measures, visit the Travellers' Health Service website. More information on Streptococcus suis is available from the centre's website.

Doctors' orders issued

Meanwhile, Hong Kong doctors have been ordered to be alert for Streptococcus suis infections and to notify suspected cases to the centre.

The order was gazetted today, seeing 31 infectious diseases now on the Schedule to the Quarantine & Prevention of Disease Ordinance list. The Department of Health sent letters to all doctors yesterday on the legislative amendment and diagnostic criteria.

An infected person can present meningitis and septicaemia symptoms, and less commonly endocarditits, arthritis and bronchopneumonia. The diagnosis, however, must be confirmed by laboratory studies based on blood or cerebro-spinal fluid culture.