strawberry-red tongue
Hong Kong authorities yesterday confirmed that five-year-old boy died of scarlet fever disease. The incident is the second death in the city due to scarlet fever outbreak.
Hong Kong’s health authorities said the number of people infected in the region increased up to 500 people. Meanwhile, in mainland China the number of infected people reached 9000. Local scientists noted that the epidemic was related to new strain, which more deadly and more easily transmitted.
A new strain of scarlet fever was found by researchers at the University of Hong Kong. The strain more resistant to antibiotics commonly used to fight disease. “The test showed that the five-year-old boy who died on Tuesday (6/22) were confirmed as suffering from scarlet fever,” said a spokesman from the Health Protection Center, yesterday on AFP.
The test result was released on Wednesday night (6/22). Government of Hong Kong on Tuesday (6/21) stated, the boy who died was a victim of scarlet fever. Scientists in Hong Kong believe, the bacteria probably spread more quickly than usual because of the type of genetic mutation. The latest cases come after HK Government declared outbreak of scarlet fever disease in Hong Kong, city with 7 million people.
Spokesman for Health Protection Center of Hong Kong said the dead boy’s brother was seven years old and 13 years. Both were also tested for the detection of scarlet fever and the result are not yet known. Class at the playground who followed the boy who died was closed for one week as a precautionary measure. A spokesman for the authority said 28 new cases found in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon (6/22).
The number was the highest this year. So the total victims of scarlet fever reached 994 people in Hong Kong. Fever infection is increased by about five times in China, the third time in Macau which is about one hour ferry ride from Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Thomas Tsang, doctor and supervisor at the Health Protection Centre of Hong Kong, said the genetic mutation causing the acceleration of the spread of bacteria.
The outbreak of scarlet fever is likely to be spread out for a while. “We will monitor these condition with great accuracy,” said Tsang was quoted by Reuters. Hong Kong was very scared to face a variety of infectious diseases. That is because the area had been hit by the SARS epidemic in 2003 that killed 300 people and 500 people in the world.
In addition, Hong Kong had also been a major victim of bird flu (H5N1) outbreak. Scarlet fever disease mainly attacks children aged between two to eight years.
