In Hong Kong, 79 people infected with type B streptococcus outbreak in two months tested positive in two markets

The Centre for Health Protection stated today (18th) that as of last Sunday (10th) a total of 79 people had been infected with invasive beta streptococcus. The youngest person was only one month old, an average of 9 people over the past 3 years. The number of confirmed cases to 26 cases has increased significantly by 2 to 7 times.

Patients mainly suffer from sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis or abscess/cellulitis.

After investigation by the CHP, it was discovered that some people had been exposed to freshwater fish such as carp before the onset of the illness, and some people had wounds on their hands when handling raw fish.

The authorities visited the Yeung Uk Road Market in Tsuen Wan where the patient had visited earlier, and the "Chicken Land" in Yuen Long. The environmental samples collected in the market were consistent with the genetic sequence of the fish samples.

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The patient was 1 month old to 96 years old with meningitis

The Centre for Health Protection said in the evening that it was notified by the Hospital Authority that last month and early this month, 58 and 21 inpatients were tested and confirmed to be infected with invasive B streptococcus, far exceeding the monthly reports recorded in the past three years. Almost 9 to 26 cases.

The 79 cases involved 42 men and 37 women, ranging in age from one month to 96 years old.

They mainly suffer from sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis or abscess/cellulitis.

Fish fillets, utensils and cutting boards in the fish stalls at Yeung Uk Road Market in Tsuen Wan all carry the virus

The center continues to point out that the fish stalls at Yeung Uk Road Market in Tsuen Wan and the "Ji Di Jiade Hong Kong Industrial Co., Ltd." located in Yuen Long Jidi had taken environmental samples, including fish pieces and water containing fish pieces. , Utensils and chopping boards, all of which are positive for the virus except the chopping board.

The investigation also revealed that some people had been exposed to freshwater fish, including carp before the onset of illness, and some of them reported that they had wounds on their hands when handling uncooked freshwater fish.

All samples from fish stalls at the Yeung Uk Road Market in Tsuen Wan by the Centre for Health Protection were positive for the virus.

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Treating wounds on hands or getting sick from eating uncooked freshwater fish

Laboratory analysis showed that at least 32 cases belonged to the serotype 3 genotype 283 (ST283), which was consistent with the genetic sequencing of environmental samples and fish samples collected in markets where some cases had visited.

The center believes that the patient's infection may be related to the wounds on his hands when handling uncooked freshwater fish, or the consumption of uncooked freshwater fish.

The center emphasizes that overseas literature points out that the invasive beta-streptococcus infection of ST283 is related to the consumption of uncooked freshwater fish. Southeast Asian countries have also reported the discovery of ST283 beta-streptococcus in freshwater fish.

The Centre for Health Protection will send a letter to doctors to raise awareness of cases of Streptococcus b infection. After receiving the notification, the FEHD and the AFCD have thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the market involved, and went to the freshwater fish wholesale market. Collect more fish samples to help determine the local situation.

In September 51 hospitalized patients were infected with invasive beta streptococcus more than twice the highest in a single month than in the previous month Order 21 servings of eel rice with 10,000 yuan in 9 minutes

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