Hong Kong recorded 21 mpox cases from August to October 10, accounting for 70% of the 30 cases reported this year, the Centre for Health Protection said. The latest case involved a 29-year-old man who was found to have symptoms while attending an outreach vaccination service on October 8. He was in stable condition when the centre announced the diagnosis two days later.
The man developed papules on September 28, followed by a rash on his limbs and buttocks, fever and swollen lymph nodes, according to the centre. Staff at the service, arranged with Hong Kong Christian Service, noticed his symptoms and arranged for him to be taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation treatment. His clinical sample tested positive for mpox virus.
Of this year’s 30 cases, 23 were local and seven imported, the centre said. Its investigations found that all 21 patients recorded since August had engaged in high-risk sexual behaviour, while most had not been vaccinated against mpox.
More than half of the patients recorded since August had used dating apps to meet unfamiliar sexual partners and could not reach those partners after diagnosis, hindering contact tracing and related control measures, the centre said.
It urged people to keep their sexual partners’ contact details so they could be reached for follow-up if needed.