The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health said today (13th) that it is investigating a human case of rat hepatitis E infection involving a 55-year-old man with chronic illness who lives in Wai Tau Village, Tai Po. This is the first case this year.
Epidemiological investigations showed that the patient had no contact with rodents or mice, and did not travel outside during the incubation period. During treatment at Prince of Wales Hospital, abnormal liver function was found, and the source and route of infection could not be determined yet.
The exact route of transmission of human infection with rat hepatitis E is not known, but infection can be caused by contact with rodents, including mice, or their excreta.
(File photo/Photo by Yu Junliang)
The CHP stated that the patient is in stable condition and his blood sample was confirmed to be positive for rat hepatitis E after laboratory tests. The case has been reported to the Pest Control Advisory Group of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Rodent control work and surveys are required.
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At present, the exact transmission route of human infection with rat hepatitis E is unknown.
Possible routes of transmission include eating or drinking food or water contaminated with rodents or their excreta, contact with the environment or objects contaminated with rodents or their excrement, and direct contact with rodents or their excrement; and generally result in human infection The hepatitis E virus is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route.
Please wash your hands thoroughly before eating. Food should be stored properly or put in the refrigerator
The CFS reminds that to prevent hepatitis E infection, members of the public should maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene, such as washing hands thoroughly before eating, food should be properly stored or put in the refrigerator, and should not be left at room temperature for a long time, And household bleach diluted 1 in 99 should be used to clean and sanitize the home, as household detergents may not kill the hepatitis E virus.
As for high-risk individuals, such as the elderly with severe chronic diseases (especially those who have received organ transplants), pregnant women, patients with chronic liver disease, and patients with glucose hexaphosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (also known as G6PD deficiency), infection with type E Hepatitis can be serious, and you should be extra careful.
HKU Yuan Guoyong's team has developed a new test for rat hepatitis E virus and the vaccine has 100% protection. Over 10 cases of rat hepatitis E since 18 years. The 59-year-old chronically ill man was diagnosed with the 7th case of rat hepatitis E this year | The 78-year-old chronically ill female patient in Hung Hom was diagnosed with the sixth case of rat hepatitis E this year | The third chronically ill patient in Tuen Mun this month 71-year-old man infected