23 Jun 2011
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has conducted further laboratory testing of the specimens from the two scarlet fever deaths. Results showed that two different strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were involved.
In the case of the 7-year-old girl who passed away on May 29 in Queen Mary Hospital, typing of the bacterium (Streptococcus pyogenes) isolated from this patient was found to be emm 12. Similar typing tests on the bacterial isolate from the 5-year-old boy who passed away on June 21 in Princess Margaret Hospital, however, was found to be emm 1.
Further tests are being carried out by the Public Health Laboratory Centre.
In the 24 hours ending at noon on June 23, the CHP recorded 32 cases of scarlet fever and 4 scarlet fever outbreaks.
From June 21, the CHP has provided a daily update on the scarlet fever situation at its website, www.chp.gov.hk .