The center said the woman developed dizziness and fever since November 17 and was admitted to hospital after seeking medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on November 19.

Her clinical diagnosis was a chest infection and her sputum specimen was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei.

She is still hospitalized and her current condition is stable. 

The center noted that one of her family members was a confirmed melioidosis case in mid-September this year.

“As the incubation period of melioidosis can reach several months, the possibility that they were exposed to the same polluted environment and infected earlier cannot be ruled out. An epidemiological investigation of the case is ongoing,” a center statement wrote.

A total of 38 melioidosis infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far this year, among which 22 cases living in Sham Shui Po were recorded since August.