Officials in Hong Kong are investigating 40 cases of invasive Group B Streptococcus infection. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health appealed to the public for heightened vigilance and attention when touching or handling raw freshwater fish. Advice included wearing gloves and not consuming undercooked freshwater fish.
CHP and the Hospital Authority have been monitoring the admission figures for invasive Group B Streptococcus infection cases belonging to serotype III sequence type 283 (ST283) since an initial announcement in mid-September. The 40 patients live in 18 districts. Their illness onset dates are between Aug.
8 and Sept. 5, and 30 have underlying illnesses. In total, 23 cases are female and 17 are male.
They range in age between 35 and 94. Ten patients have been discharged, 25 are hospitalized in stable condition, three are in serious condition, and two people with underlying illnesses have died. Link to freshwater fish CHP’s epidemiological investigations revealed that 31 patients had contact with or handled raw freshwater fish before the onset of symptoms.
Five reported having wounds on their hands when handling such fish, and six patients may have consumed undercooked freshwater fish. CHP has issued a letter to doctors to enhance their alertness for Group B Streptococcus infections and said it cannot rule out that the number of cases may increase. None of the 40 patients were fishmongers or worked in fish-related jobs.
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