4 Mar 2009
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 4) investigating this year's first reported case of laboratory confirmed infection of Streptococcus suis (a kind of bacteria isolated from pigs).
The case involved a 56-year-old woman, who developed fever and confusion on March 1 and was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital the next day. She is still in the hospital in stable condition.
A CHP spokesman said the patient had no travel history recently. She had history of handling raw pork meat while preparing for food at home. All her home contacts did not have any symptoms.
A total of six reported cases of Streptococcus suis infection were reported in 2008. Six cases were reported in 2007 and eight cases were reported in 2006.
The spokesman said Streptococcus suis infection may present as meningitis (inflammation of the membrane enclosing the brain), septicaemia (blood stream infection), and less commonly endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers), arthritis and bronchopneumonia (a kind of lung infection involving the bronchioles). Streptococcus suis infection could be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
To prevent the disease, members of the public are advised to always observe personal and environmental hygiene practices. They should avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or body fluid. If contact with pigs or raw pork is necessary, one should:
* Use protective gloves;
* Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork; and
* Clean and cover all wounds properly.
Members of the public with suspected symptoms should consult their doctors as soon as possible and report their relevant exposure histories.
They can obtain more information on Streptococcus suis from the CHP website ( http://www.chp.gov.hk ). They can also obtain latest information on infectious diseases in other places on the Department's Hong Kong Travellers' Health Service website ( http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk ).