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On Thursday, the Health Protection Center of the Department of Health received 31 cases of measles this year in the city, already exceeding the figure for the year 2018 – 15 – for this type of case.
Hong Kong is not alone in dealing with the epidemic. In recent months, measles outbreaks have raged in several countries around the world, with Ukraine, the Philippines and Brazil being the most affected.
As for Japan, which is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Hong Kong in recent years, it recorded 285 cases of measles in early March. Elsewhere, the United States reported 268 confirmed cases.
Although the majority of locally born Hong Kong residents have been vaccinated against measles, a large-scale epidemic on the territory remains a concern, given the density and mobility of the population.
In addition, as some medical experts point out, even if a person had received two doses of measles vaccine combined during childhood, it is possible that his immunity to the virus decreased with the pbadage of the virus. time.
In this situation, if someone plans to travel to high-risk countries or regions, it may be wise to start by testing the antibodies to determine whether they are still immunized against measles and should get vaccinated immediately if they are not. & # 39; t.
Many foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong come from countries where overall measles immunization rates are relatively low, and given the possibility of workers having frequent contact with people traveling to measles-affected areas, the risk of a mbadive measles outbreak among HDD in the city can not be ignored.
Even worse, since HDDs are mainly family caregivers who can take care of high-risk people such as the elderly or infants under the age of 12 months and too young to be vaccinated on a daily basis, this could mean: disastrous consequences if the workers themselves are infected.
Faced with this risk, employers should consider getting their HPD vaccine – in private clinics, if necessary.
Public health workers are likely to come into close contact with patients with a long incubation period.
Conscious of the potential danger to which they are exposed, the hospital authority already organizes and encourages unvaccinated health workers to be vaccinated against measles as soon as possible. This urgent measure deserves to be supported.
However, in addition to vaccination, the PA also needs sufficient resources and support, as well as a comprehensive set of quarantine measures and an early warning mechanism to respond quickly and effectively to a measles outbreak. large scale in the country. city.
While demand for measles vaccines has exploded in recent days, many doctors in private hospitals and family doctors in Hong Kong said they were already out of stock.
To address this urgent problem, the Food and Health Bureau and the Department of Health must maintain close contact with pharmaceutical companies to ensure a stable and continuous supply of measles vaccines.
At departure and arrival checkpoints at the airport and at the railway terminals, the authorities should redouble their sanitation and sterilization efforts in the facilities, as well as check the body temperature of all incoming and outgoing tourists. .
In addition, it is important to remind people of arrival that they must declare any disease on their own.
As the Easter holidays approach, the government should consider issuing travel warnings to countries and regions affected by measles.
In particular, the administration should warn extremely vulnerable people – such as pregnant women, people with low immunity and children under one year old – not to go to places where there have been serious measles outbreaks. .
Healthy people traveling to these areas should consult a specialist according to their situation and be vaccinated or given a booster dose before starting their trip. If they have a fever within three weeks of arriving at their destination, they should immediately see a doctor.
As for infected patients and having a measles rash, they should avoid going to school within four days of starting to avoid transmitting the virus to other people.
This article was published in the Hong Kong Economic Journal on March 29.
Alan Lee translation with additional report
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