The Centre for Health Protection urged anyone who visited Hu Tong Club in Mong Kok on or after September 14 to seek a health assessment after confirming an mpox case in a 39-year-old man.
The man told the Centre he had visited the Shanghai Street venue several times during his incubation period and had multiple high-risk sexual contacts with other men there. The Centre said it could not rule out a transmission risk and recommended that the club close temporarily from October 13 as a precaution. At least five earlier mpox cases had also been epidemiologically linked to the venue.
He developed a rash on October 5 and went to a private clinic on October 8. He was admitted for isolation treatment the next day and later transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital to continue treatment. His test was positive and his condition was stable, the Centre said.
The Centre reported 22 cases since August, out of 31 recorded in Hong Kong by October 13 this year. It said some cases had identical gene sequences, suggesting they might share infection sources, and that it believed multiple transmission chains existed among men who have sex with men.
Visitors, particularly anyone who had sexual contact with strangers at the club, were asked to call the Centre’s mpox hotline on 2125 2373 for advice. The Centre said it would arrange testing for people with relevant symptoms.