In the initial four months of this year, Hong Kong has seen an increase in instances of a severe bacterial illness, which has led a prominent specialist in infectious diseases to urge travelers to think about getting vaccinated.
Dr Mike Kwan Yat-wah, who serves as the president of the Asian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, stated that Hong Kong has recorded five cases of invasive meningococcal infections up until 2025, which matches the total number reported for the entire previous year.
The five instances involved a death, specifically a 73-year-old man suffering from multiple chronic conditions.
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"Should the city have an asymptomatic patient, the disease could readily disseminate within the community," Kwan cautioned.
Healthcare workers and physicians, alongside the government, ought to take initiative in offering additional details to help residents gain better understanding of the illness and adopt preventive actions.
The infection triggered by the meningococcus bacteria may lead to high fever, intense headaches, a rigid neck, nausea, skin rashes, or potentially fatal outcomes.
The illness primarily spreads via droplets and direct contact with respiratory secretions from those affected, being common in the UK, the US, and Australia.
The time frame for the incubation period ranges from two to ten days, with three to four days being the most typical duration.
The latest incidents affected two employees at a construction site for an expansion project. United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong.
In March, a seven-year-old boy was also discovered to have been infected. He continues to remain in a stable condition.
Between January and April, the number of invasive meningococcal infections matched the total for the previous year.
Kwan urged officials to carefully track this development and requested that the healthcare sector enhance public education efforts.
He emphasized that patients ought to see a doctor at the earliest opportunity since their health might worsen rapidly.
Kwan asserts that vaccination is the most effective form of protection, and parents ought to think about having their children vaccinated following consultation with a healthcare provider.
Kwan mentioned that following the inclusion of meningococcal vaccination in their immunization programs, the UK, Canada, and Australia saw a decrease in case numbers.
However, he noted that the illness remained uncommon in Hong Kong and there was no need to incorporate vaccination into the city’s childhood immunization programs at present. These current programs already address diseases such as tuberculosis and chickenpox, amongst others.
People who travel to or reside in countries where meningococcal disease is widespread should think about receiving vaccinations against the illness, he advised.
Kwan referred to international statistics, mentioning that the UK documented 341 instances of invasive meningococcal disease in 2023-24, whereas Australia reported 141 cases in 2023.
He encouraged the healthcare industry to enhance public awareness about recognizing the signs, which closely resemble those of influenza, as well as to promote proper individual and ambient cleanliness.
Individually, Kwan and various international specialists affiliated with the society encouraged Asia-Pacific economies to evaluate incorporating vaccinations for meningococcal infections into their immunization plans, taking into account regional epidemiological statistics and professional recommendations.
They highlighted significant disparities in surveillance data across various locations within the Asia-Pacific region, encouraging national and local bodies to designate invasive meningococcal diseases as a reportable illness.
Invasive meningococcal infection is a legally reportable disease in Hong Kong.
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which serves as the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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