A worker at a high-security laboratory in Russia died after developing pneumonia of unknown cause. Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection assessed the related public-health risk as low.
Star Headline reported that the Russian side had carried out more than 5,500 tests and screened more than 200 close contacts, finding no plague bacillus or other highly pathogenic microorganism and no evidence of human-to-human transmission or an outbreak. Infectious-disease specialist Prof. Chan Fuk Woo, Jasper, said there was no conclusive evidence the worker had plague.
Hong Kong had strengthened health monitoring of arrivals from Russia. Prof. Chan said the current precautions were appropriate, and that a month without further cases would make the situation comparatively safer.
He advised people returning from Russia to seek medical care promptly if they develop fever, body aches or other symptoms during the incubation period.