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In the News Notice
Another
Japanese Encephalitis Case, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region
(Updated December 1, 2004; Released November 8, 2004)
The Hong Kong Department of Health has reported
another laboratory-confirmed Japanese encephalitis (JE) case in
a 40-year-old man in Ap Lei Chau, a metropolitan area of Hong Kong.
The patient, who had no recent history of travel, was hospitalized
on November 3, 2004, and is reported to be in serious condition.
Last month, a 4-year-old boy with confirmed JE was hospitalized,
and earlier this year, three other confirmed cases—one fatal—occurred.
All four previous cases were reported from the New Territories,
a mixed agricultural area of Hong Kong.
Japanese encephalitis, a common mosquito-borne viral encephalitis
(inflammation of the brain) found in Asia, primarily occurs in
rural, agricultural locations. The primary epidemic mosquito vector
of JE virus is Culex tritaeniorhynchus, a species that
feeds outdoors mainly from dusk to dawn. Other Culex species
mosquitoes have been implicated in JE virus transmission throughout
India, Asia, and the South Pacific. Mild infections can present
with fever and headache. More severe infection can begin with sudden
onset of headache and high fever and rapidly progress to coma.
April to October is the peak season for JE transmission in the
region, and in the past, rare cases of JE have been reported from
the New Territories.
The risk for JE among travelers to endemic areas is low, especially
for short-term travelers and those who confine their travel to
urban areas. Expatriates and travelers living for prolonged periods
in rural areas where JE is endemic or epidemic are at greatest
risk. Travelers with extensive unprotected outdoor, evening, and
nighttime exposure in rural areas, such as might be experienced
while bicycling, camping, or engaging in certain occupational activities,
might be at high risk even during brief visits. Such travelers
are advised to consult with a health-care provider prior to departure
about vaccination and other measures to reduce their risk for infection,
particularly if travel will extend to the New Territories.
For more information about JE, see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/jencephalitis/index.htm and
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/jenceph.htm.
For more information about this outbreak, see http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/new/index.htm.
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