Press Release

Update on number of dengue fever cases

17 April 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 17) provided an update on the number of cases of dengue fever (DF) in Hong Kong, and called on the public to take preventive measures to guard against DF.

Two new confirmed cases were recorded between April 10 and 16, involving two patients who had travelled to the Philippines and to Singapore and Indonesia during the incubation period. As of April 16, there have been 23 confirmed cases of DF in Hong Kong this year, and all were imported cases.

DF is a common mosquito-borne disease. The symptoms include fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea and rash. Some infected people may not develop apparent symptoms, and some may only have mild symptoms like fever. The symptoms of first infection are usually mild but subsequent infections with other serotypes of dengue virus are more likely to result in a serious complication, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF is a severe and potentially fatal complication of dengue fever. Without proper treatment, the DHF case fatality rate can exceed 20 per cent. From 2005 to 2014, a total of 585 cases of DF were recorded in Hong Kong, with no deaths.

"At present, no effective vaccine for DF is available. Therefore, the best preventive measures are to avoid mosquito bites and to eliminate pockets of stagnant water that serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes," a spokesman for the CHP said.

Travellers should take the following preventive measures against DF:

• Wear loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers;
• Use DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed parts of the body and clothing; and
• Use mosquito screens or nets in rooms that are not air-conditioned.

The incubation period of dengue fever ranges from three to 14 days, commonly four to seven days. Anyone feeling unwell after returning from a trip should seek medical advice as soon as possible and provide travel details to their doctor.

The latest information on DF in other places can be found under "Travel Health News" on the Hong Kong Travel Health Service website at This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk/eindex.html.

Travel agents, tour guides and travellers can visit the website for the latest news and advice on preventive measures.

Members of the public should prevent the accumulation of stagnant water by:

• Disposing of all used cans and containers in covered rubbish bins;
• Changing the water in vases with plants once a week in order to prevent accumulation of stagnant water in the saucers;
• Covering all containers, wells and water storage points;
• Ensuring air-conditioner drip trays are free of stagnant water;
• Keeping all drains clear; and
• Paving all uneven ground.

More information on mosquito control can be found on the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's website at This link will open in a new windowwww.fehd.gov.hk/english/safefood/handbook_prev_mos_breeding.html.