Hong Kong records imported mpox case; infections drop 60 per cent in October
Hong Kong health authorities reported one imported mpox case in a 36-year-old man, now stable. The Centre for Health Protection said confirmed cases in the first 15 days of October fell over 60 per cent from September, while mpox vaccine doses in the first two weeks rose by more than 60 per cent.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has recorded one imported case of mpox, involving a 36-year-old man who is in a stable condition. The centre said that under its multi-pronged strategy to curb the spread of the virus, the number of mpox vaccine doses administered in the first two weeks of this month increased by more than 60 per cent compared with the same period last month.
The patient developed a fever and sore throat on 10 October, followed by rashes on multiple parts of his body. As his symptoms continued to worsen, he called the centre's hotline on 13 October and was arranged for isolation treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital the same day. Clinical samples later tested positive for the mpox virus.
According to the information available, the man had high-risk sexual contact overseas during the incubation period. The centre is continuing its epidemiological investigation and will notify the World Health Organization of the case.
The centre noted that since August, the number of mpox cases recorded in Hong Kong had risen significantly. In response, it adopted a multi-pronged strategy to interrupt transmission, including comprehensive epidemiological investigations and analysis to cut transmission chains, and strengthening collaboration with non-governmental organisations to facilitate vaccination for people with high-risk exposure and boost their willingness to get vaccinated.
Initial results have been achieved, the centre said. The number of confirmed cases in the first 15 days of this month fell by more than 60 per cent compared with the same period in September, while the number of mpox vaccine doses administered in the first two weeks of this month also increased significantly over the previous month.
The centre said it will continue to actively promote targeted prevention and control measures to safeguard public health.