March 29, 2000
The Department of Health (DH) said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was likely to enter the usual peak season for rubella in the coming weeks but there was no cause for undue alarm.
The Consultant (Community Medicine) of DH, Dr Mak Kwok-hang today (March 29) said: " With our effective surveillance programme and adequate treatment facilities, coupled with our successful vaccination programme, Hong Kong should be able to cope with the situation.
"Rubella is generally a mild disease rarely associated with complications for the patients.
"Of the 102 cases reported in January and February this (2000) year, 81 were male patients and 21 female patients. More than 85 per cent of them were aged between 20 and 39 and the great majority of them did not have a history of vaccination against rubella.
"All 102 patients have fully recovered.
"DH would continue to monitor the situation closely."
Rubella is usually transmitted by close contacts with patients in a poorly-ventilated environment.
Dr Mak said: "To prevent the spread of the disease, members of the public should maintain good ventilation and personal hygiene. Persons who have rubella should remain at home until they have recovered."
Dr Mak said that the local female population would have adequate protection against rubella as a result of the successful Government vaccination programme against the disease for schoolgirls and women of child-bearing age introduced in the 1970's.
Vaccinations have also been given to all babies at 12 months at DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres since 1990, and second doses of combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccination are currently given to primary one school children.
Dr Mak urged girls and women of child-bearing age who had not received vaccination against rubella, to do so as soon as practicable.
If a pregnant mother acquires the infection, it may result in spontaneous abortion or delivery of an infant with congenital rubella syndrome. The risk is greatest in the first trimester while defects are rare when the maternal infection occurs after the 20th week of gestation.
"Pregnant women should consult their doctors if they have come in contact with persons with rubella," Dr Mak said.
The number of rubella cases reported in the first two months of 1999, 1998 and 1997 were seven, seven and 325 respectively.