The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reassured the public on Monday that the chance of chikungunya fever becoming endemic in Hong Kong is extremely low, even though there is a relatively high chance that the SAR will see another imported case.

Hong Kong recorded its first imported case of the mosquito-borne disease on Saturday after a 12-year-old boy returned from Foshan on Wednesday.

More than 6,500 cases have been recorded in Foshan.

Wong Hoi-kei, the CHP's senior medical and health officer, told an RTHK radio programme that it is within expectations that an imported case would be found in the SAR.

He said there are vaccines for the disease but that they had yet to be widely used.

"Chikungunya vaccines are a relatively new thing, and they have not been widely used by any country and region," Dr Wong said.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) and many other experts are still carrying out more research to obtain safe and effective data for the vaccines.

"Because when we use a vaccine, it is most important that it is safe and effective. Therefore, we will continue to closely monitor the reports of WHO and relevant experts."

Wong said people with weak immunity are more likely to suffer from serious symptoms after catching the disease while healthy individuals are likely to get mild ones.

Wong also said chikungunya fever can be transmitted from mother to infant but that the virus will not be spread through social contact.

As the disease is transmitted through mosquito bites, it is most important to carry out mosquito prevention and control work.

Wong said there is no accurate and credible rapid testing kit for chikungunya fever as yet and that the public, particularly those returning from places affected by mosquito-borne diseases, should see a doctor as soon as possible.