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Hong Kong discovers fourth melioidosis infection this year in Sham Shui Po
Hong Kong’s fourth melioidosis infection this year was recorded this past week, involving a 76-year-old Sham Shui Po resident who has diabetes, the Centre for Health Protection said on Friday.
The Sham Shui Po man developed a fever, cough, and generalized weakness on February 25 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on March 1. He was admitted the same day.
He later developed acute retention of urine and was put on a urinary catheter. He was discharged on March 19 after being treated with antibiotics.
His urinary catheter was blocked the next day and he was readmitted to the hospital. His urine sample then tested positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing, making him the city’s fourth melioidosis infection this year.
He is now in stable condition, and an epidemiological investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the CHP reiterated that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment.
According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms as the bacterium – Burkholderia pseudomallei – in soil and muddy water may be exposed to the ground. The number of melioidosis cases may also increase because the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms.
A total of 46 melioidosis infections were recorded last year, and 30 of the patients lived in Sham Shui Po.
The CHP urged the public, especially those with diabetes and other immunocompromised conditions, to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms to receive appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment.
He later developed acute retention of urine and was put on a urinary catheter. He was discharged on March 19 after being treated with antibiotics.
His urinary catheter was blocked the next day and he was readmitted to the hospital. His urine sample then tested positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing, making him the city’s fourth melioidosis infection this year.
He is now in stable condition, and an epidemiological investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the CHP reiterated that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment.
According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms as the bacterium – Burkholderia pseudomallei – in soil and muddy water may be exposed to the ground. The number of melioidosis cases may also increase because the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms.
A total of 46 melioidosis infections were recorded last year, and 30 of the patients lived in Sham Shui Po.
The CHP urged the public, especially those with diabetes and other immunocompromised conditions, to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms to receive appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment.
