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Health Department tests reveal no melioidosis source in Sham Shui Po
The Department of Health announced on Tuesday that no source of Melioidosis bacteria was found in 107 environmental specimens collected in the Sham Shui Po district, including soil and water sources from the residential building where the infected patient lived.
Although part of the samples is still being examined, others are found negative for the bacteria.
A total of 29 Melioidosis cases were reported by Health Authorities this year, with 20 originating from Sham Shui Po and 17 logged between August and October.
“All the patients went to restaurants and other dining premises, but no overlap was found in their movement paths, and their close contacts showed no disease symptoms,” said health officers, claiming the infection opportunities via food can be ruled out.
Besides, the city’s leading microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said 31 environmental samples were collected from residential places of the infected by his medical team, among which only two samples, coming from the same patient, were found carrying bacteria.
“Yet the bacteria level is extremely low,” he said, “thus we thought it might not be the source but rather be the contamination left by the bacteria carried by the patient.”
He added that chlorine in the household water supply system can destroy the bacteria.
“The Water Supplies Department has reviewed the water supply system in the district and maintenance records for the past three months,” Yuen said, noting no malfunction or damage.
Melioidosis is a bacterial disease, also known as Whitmore’s disease, which causes nonspecific symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and headaches, but can also cause pneumonia, abscess formation, and blood infections.
The disease can be treated with antibiotics; however, long-term treatment may be necessary for some chronic infection cases. The mortality rate of the illness ranges from around 40-75 percent.
A total of 29 Melioidosis cases were reported by Health Authorities this year, with 20 originating from Sham Shui Po and 17 logged between August and October.
“All the patients went to restaurants and other dining premises, but no overlap was found in their movement paths, and their close contacts showed no disease symptoms,” said health officers, claiming the infection opportunities via food can be ruled out.
Besides, the city’s leading microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said 31 environmental samples were collected from residential places of the infected by his medical team, among which only two samples, coming from the same patient, were found carrying bacteria.
“Yet the bacteria level is extremely low,” he said, “thus we thought it might not be the source but rather be the contamination left by the bacteria carried by the patient.”
He added that chlorine in the household water supply system can destroy the bacteria.
“The Water Supplies Department has reviewed the water supply system in the district and maintenance records for the past three months,” Yuen said, noting no malfunction or damage.
Melioidosis is a bacterial disease, also known as Whitmore’s disease, which causes nonspecific symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and headaches, but can also cause pneumonia, abscess formation, and blood infections.
The disease can be treated with antibiotics; however, long-term treatment may be necessary for some chronic infection cases. The mortality rate of the illness ranges from around 40-75 percent.
