On Monday, a 70-year-old woman from Hong Kong was recorded to be the world's second case of rat hepatitis E infection in humans. Two months ago, a resident living in the same district was reported to be the first case in the world. But, a local expert involved in the investigation noted this latest case was not associated with the first one although both patients were living in the same district.
The infected woman lived in Wong Tai Sin Disciplined Services Quarters, said she didn't recall having any direct contact with rodents and didn't notice rats in her home. Sophia Chan Siu-chee, the Secretary for Food and Health, said she was very concerned about the occurrence of the second case.
This latest case proved that rat hepatitis E virus (distantly related to human hepatitis E virus) could be transmitted to people, said Dr. Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical assistant professor from the University of Hong Kong's department of microbiology.
Hepatitis E virus is one of the five strains where it can be spread through different routes, such as consuming undercooked meat or drinking water contaminated by feces of carriers. A patient might also be infected with the virus if he or she has a weak immune system.
According to the Department of Health, the second patient has underlying illnesses and a suppressed immune system. The woman reportedly developed symptoms such as malaise, abdominal pain, loss of appetite since May 1 last year. She was then was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei on May 4, and discharged after four days and had recovered.
During the patient's stay at the hospital, her blood sample was collected and analyzed in the HKU lab and was found out later on that she has been carrying the rat hepatitis E virus. However, a spokesman of the Center for Health Protection said the route and the source of the infection could not be determined, but Dr. Sridhar believed the patient possibly had direct contact with rodents unknowingly.
South China Morning Post reported in September that Hong Kong recorded the world's first case of rat hepatitis E in human. The 56-year-old first patient was living in Choi Wan Estate in Kowloon, and he had undergone a liver transplant surgery back in May last year. But two months after that, he reportedly developed persistent, abnormal liver function.
Meanwhile, Wong Tai Sin district councilor Bee Lee Tung-kong noted rodents weren't really an issue around the area where the second patient lived, and there were no previous complaints regarding the matter as well. But, Lee admitted he is worried as the sources of the infection remains unknown and it might cause public panic, and more infections might likely surface later on.
