October 15, 2001
The Department of Health (DH) today (October 15) announced that an imported case of human rabies had been reported.
A spokesman for DH said: "The patient was a 37 year-old woman who came to Hong Kong three months ago. She developed fever, bone pain, limb weakness and shortness of breath. She was admitted to a public hospital on September 21 and diagnosed as having viral encephalitis and treated with antibiotics and antiviral drugs. Her condition deteriorated progressively and she died on September 28."
"Postmortem examination of brain tissue confirmed the case as human rabies today."
The spokesman said that this was a sporadic case. "Prompt investigations have been carried out with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD)."
"There is no cause for alarm. The last local human case was reported in Hong Kong in 1981 and the last imported human case was reported in 1999. The last animal case was reported in 1987," said the spokesman.
Investigations showed that the patient had no history of animal bite in Hong Kong. She worked for a family and all family members were asymptomatic. Rabies cannot be transmitted from human-to-human through casual contact.
DH has worked closely with the Infection Control Team of the hospital. The team had undertaken control measures in the hospital.
The AFCD has stepped up stray dog surveillance and capture activities.
The spokesman said: "If a person is bitten by a domestic or wild animal, he/she should immediately report it to the Police and consult a doctor."