The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection on Mar. 22 recorded a sporadic case of hantavirus infection affecting a 22-year-old man with good past health.
He presented with on and off fever, runny nose, abdominal pain and vomiting since March 5. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of a public hospital on March 11 and was admitted on the same day. He subsequently developed acute renal failure, impaired liver function and reduction in platelet count.
His blood collected on March 15 was tested positive for Hantavirus IgM and Hantavirus polyvalent antibody titre was raised to 2 560.
Epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient was a student. He lived with his parents and elder brother in Yuen Long who remained asymptomatic.
He did not keep pets at home and had no travel history during incubation period. He denied any previous skin wounds and any contacts with rodents or their excreta. He did not report any rodent bites. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department was informed and investigations are on-going.
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