The Center for Health Protection announced on Monday (18th) that a total of 58 and 21 hospitalized patients were infected with invasive B streptococcus from September to October 10.
This number is a significant increase over the 9 to 26 monthly cases recorded in the past three years.
According to the Hospital Authority, the patients were 42 males and 37 females, aged between 1 month and 96 years old. They mainly developed sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis or abscesses or cellulitis.
As of Wednesday (20th), 7 of the 79 infections have died, 38 have been hospitalized, and 34 have been discharged.
Infectious disease experts have found that the number of related infections was higher than the average monthly number of cases in the past three years.
Infection and infectious diseases specialist Lin Weixun also pointed out that invasive beta streptococcus is a common bacterium, but there are few large outbreaks, so it is not unusual for as many as 79 people to appear in a short period of time. Obviously, type B streptococcus A cocci outbreak has already broken out in Hong Kong.
The number of deaths was not announced at first
The relevant case was actually referred by the Hospital Authority to the Centre for Health Protection for epidemiological investigation and follow-up on September 30. The latter called on the public to be vigilant on October 4 to prevent invasive beta-streptococcus.
Until October 18, the Center for Health Protection 1 issued another article stating that it is still following up the epidemiological investigation of the increase in invasive beta streptococcus cases, and the HA said it will continue to strengthen monitoring and will report to the Center for Health Protection in due course. Notify new cases of infection.
However, the October 18 press release of the Center for Health Protection did not mention the number of deaths caused by streptococcus b. It was only two days after media reports that there were seven deaths.
Even though the epidemiological investigation has not been completed, the incident is believed to have been contagious, and it is worth publicizing the relevant figures as soon as possible to alert the public.
The Centre for Health Protection stated that the fish stalls in the Yeung Uk Road Market in Tsuen Wan and the "Jidi Jiade Hong Kong Industrial Co., Ltd." located in Yuen Long Jidi had taken environmental samples, including fish pieces and those containing fish pieces. Water, utensils, and chopping boards, except for chopping boards, all tested positive for the virus.
However, when a reporter from "Hong Kong 01" visited the Yeung Uk Road Market in Tsuen Wan, many neighbours in the area said that the incident was only learned from the reporter's mouth, and the fish stall owner said that he had seen routine market cleaning. I have not received any notification about the news.
The information announcement mechanism needs to be improved
In view of the current notification procedures, after the HA reports the relevant cases to the Health Protection Center, citizens still have to wait for the latter to announce the news before they can learn about the relevant diseases, which may not be effective in early preparations.
As for the amount of information released by the CHP, it seems that from the actual arrangement of this incident, there seems to be a lack of complete standards. Some socially considered important figures were not included in the scope of the announcement at the beginning.
Looking at it more macroscopically, outside of this incident, the government's information dissemination work sometimes lacks communication and readability. Even if some information is provided, it often fails to reach the general public effectively. Instead, the media has to ask more questions.
Regarding one of the key points of the latest "Policy Address" on improving the effectiveness of governance, it happens to be to improve the ability of government information dissemination and external interpretation.
The epidemic is a major issue of people’s livelihood. In the past two years, the government has gained experience in information dissemination of the new crown epidemic. It is believed that the dissemination of relevant information can be used as a pilot for government work review to protect citizens’ health while improving government work efficiency.
Anti-epidemic measures in dry ports should be proportional. Health information must also be exchanged and mutually recognized. Land information should be complete, open and transparent.
