2 August 2005
Medical practitioners are reminded to be on the alert of Streptococcus suis infection and are required to notify suspected cases to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) as soon as possible, a DH spokesman said.
The order was gazetted today (August 2). This brings to 31 the total number of infectious diseases on the list in the First Schedule to the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance.
The spokesman said Hong Kong needs to have data on Streptococcus suis infection to enable the health authority to better understand the epidemiology of the disease in the community, identify possible abnormal clustering or outbreaks, and implement control measures in a timely manner for public health protection.
The DH issued letters to all medical practitioners yesterday to inform them about the legislative amendment and diagnostic criteria.
The spokesman stated that a person with Streptococcus suis infection may present as meningitis, septicaemia and less commonly endocarditits, arthritis and bronchopneumonia. Streptococcus suis meningitis is characteristically complicated by deafness which is usually permanent.
"The diagnosis, however, has to be confirmed by laboratory studies based on blood or cerebro-spinal fluid culture," the spokesman said.
Medical practitioners are asked to notify the CHP if they have reasons to suspect the existence of a case of Streptococcus suis infection as soon as possible. Forms of notification are available at CENO Online, the web-based reporting system of the Centre for Health Protection at http://www.chp.gov.hk/ceno. Doctors may also download the form and report by fax to 2477 2770. Enquiries about reporting can also be made to CENO at 2477 2772.
CHP also planned to organize briefings for medical practitioners regarding the patterns and clinical presentations of Streptococcus suis infection.