The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 23) investigating a case of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) affecting a man aged 52.
The patient, with underlying illness, has presented with fever, cough with sputum and shortness of breath since June 19. He attended Ruttonjee Hospital on June 21 and was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for further management.
The clinical diagnosis is pneumonia and he is now in a critical condition.
His urine sample tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen upon testing by Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no recent travel history. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic. Investigations are ongoing.
This is the 20th LD case reported to the CHP this year. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively.
Legionnaires disease is a severe bacterial pneumonia characterized by fever, cough, and muscle aches. Treatment required antibiotics and usually hospital admission.
Transmission is through inhalation of contaminated air. Person-to-person transmission does not occur. The incubation period for Legionnaires’ disease is typically five to six days, but can be up to 10 days.
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