Hong Kong’s disease control authority reported another imported case of Chikungunya fever this week, involving an elderly female who recently returned from mainland China, underscoring the ongoing risk of international disease transmission despite colder seasons in parts of the world. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) confirmed that a 64-year-old woman residing in Eastern District tested positive for the arbovirus on December 2. She had traveled to Guangzhou, Guangdong, between November 21 and 27. She developed symptoms, including fever and joint pain, on November 30 and was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, where she remains in stable condition under mosquito-free isolation.
The patient’s three household contacts are under medical surveillance, though currently asymptomatic. Given her travel history during the incubation period, the CHP has classified the infection as an imported case and notified health authorities in Guangdong.
This latest confirmation brings the total number of Chikungunya cases in Hong Kong this calendar year to 76. The vast majority are imported, with only seven classified as local infections. This consistent influx mirrors a broader global trend. International health data indicates that from the beginning of 2025 through September 30, nearly 445,300 suspected and confirmed cases, alongside 155 fatalities, were reported across 40 countries spanning the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Experts attribute the sustained global transmission risk to persistently higher temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions, which enable continuous mosquito breeding throughout the year.
Intensified Focus on Local Transmission Risks
The CHP continues to actively investigate local transmission risks, particularly following recent cases linked to the Tsing Yi area. Authorities launched immediate epidemiological probes and are collaborating with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) to implement targeted mosquito control measures. Reports of heightened mosquito activity along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails have led to the location being flagged as a high-risk zone.
Since November 23, the CHP has strongly urged individuals who have recently visited Tsing Yi North or hiked the Nature Trails to immediately seek medical attention if they develop any fever or joint pain. Two individuals who contacted the CHP’s dedicated inquiry hotline (2125 2373) with compatible symptoms underwent testing, both yielding negative results for the virus.
Furthermore, the CHP has taken proactive steps to engage the healthcare network. Approximately 130 primary care doctors in the Kwai Tsing District have been alerted through the Primary Healthcare Commission to maintain heightened vigilance for characteristic Chikungunya symptoms and facilitate testing where necessary. The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch is offering free diagnostic services to support this crucial surveillance effort.
Vector Control and Traveler Precautions
Government departments are reinforcing vector control measures following all imported case confirmations and are actively engaging in community outreach to identify any further cases in affected areas.
The CHP strongly advises Hong Kong residents and visitors to review the health risks prevalent in their intended destinations before travel. While abroad, individuals should consistently use mosquito repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535, wear long-sleeved clothing, and secure accommodations with proper window screening to minimize exposure to mosquitoes, which transmit the Chikungunya virus. Reducing contact with potential vectors remains the most effective defense against this and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Epidemiological investigations into the recent transmission patterns are ongoing.