Four more people in Hong Kong were confirmed to have suffered from dengue fever on Thursday. This only brought the number of victims who have contracted the virus locally to 23 this year.
According to the South China Morning Post, this is the most cases reported since records started in 1994. Fortunately, the aforementioned new patients are already in stable condition. The Hong Kong health department's Centre for Health Protection confirmed the news.
The victims reportedly lived in or visited Cheung Chau island, which also has other infected residents. They are pretty much similar to individuals whose infections were reported since August 14. They all had gone to the titular Lion Rock Park.
Considering the spike in cases in just 10 days, there is no doubt it worried medical experts. They are even anticipating the possibility of the outbreak stretching the already overburdened public health system.
It is worth noting that most dengue fever cases in the last few years were imported. Patients were bitten elsewhere and returned with displayed signs of the illness. The very last time a massive number of local cases were recorded in such a short period was around 2002. This was particularly when at least 20 cases surfaced in just two months.
Since 1994, dengue has been considered a statutorily notifiable disease. Meaning, doctors are obliged to report every case they treat.
ECNS reports that the families of the four new patients have shown no signs of the infection. Since August 17, Lion Rock Park has been closed due to a month-long mosquito eradication campaign. As far as other areas are concerned, the government is already considering closure.
This year, 61 imported cases are mostly from Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia, the CHP said.
"We have informed the Guangdong and Macau health authorities to alert them to the latest situation," a spokesman added.
