HONG KONG - The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced on Monday the investigation of a new confirmed local Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) case, urging high-risk demographics to seek vaccination and exercise caution.
The case involves a 43-year-old male who developed symptoms after visiting a premises named "Hutong" on Shanghai Street in Mong Kok on May 22. According to the CHP, the individual became aware of previous confirmed cases at the location through an earlier health advisory. He subsequently developed ulcers in the genital area on June 1.
Seeking medical attention, the patient visited a male social hygiene service clinic under the Department of Health on June 3, where he disclosed his high-risk contact history. Specimen collection and subsequent laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed a positive result for the monkeypox virus. The patient has been transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation treatment and remains in stable condition.
The CHP is actively following up on the cluster of cases associated with the Mong Kok premises. Health officials have successfully made contact with over 300 individuals who visited the location on or after May 1 to provide health education and conduct ongoing medical surveillance. To date, only this single confirmed case has been identified from that cohort, though surveillance remains active.
Public health officials emphasised that Mpox is not generally transmitted through respiratory droplets or casual social contact. The CHP advises the public, particularly those in higher-risk groups, to avoid close physical contact with individuals or animals suspected of infection.
Symptoms to monitor include skin rashes, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches. The department strongly advises anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek immediate medical evaluation and refrain from activities that could expose others to skin rashes or body fluids.
