An expert in infectious diseases said people returning from places at high risk of chikungunya fever should keep spraying mosquito repellent on themselves to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease locally.

The call came as Hong Kong recorded four cases of chikungunya fever, all of them imported, with the three new infections reported on Wednesday adding to the first case that health authorities revealed on Saturday.

Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Dr Joseph Tsang said people should screen themselves for symptoms of the disease, such as joint pains and high fever, even if they are unable to recall whether they had been bitten by mosquitoes.

Returning travellers, he added, should also consult a doctor as soon as possible if they are unwell and have medical workers arrange blood tests for them to check for the disease.

"If people went to places with high incidences of chikungunya fever, I think that the most important thing to do upon returning is to carry out medical monitoring by themselves," Tsang said.

"For the first 14 days upon returning, they should keep putting on mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes to avoid the spread of the disease."

He pointed out that up to 35 percent of chikungunya fever patients had shown very mild symptoms during the first seven days of the disease's onset that might not be noticeable.

Medical research showed that up to 60 percent of patients suffer from chronic arthritis for years, Tsang said, requiring long-term physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medicines.

He added the public should try to avoid heading to chikungunya fever hotspots.

Mike Kwan, president of the Asian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, said he hopes the government would release data for areas and regions that have recorded cases of chikungunya and dengue fever to keep the public informed.

"I consider it important that the Department of Health release [data for] the areas or regions that are currently endemic with chikungunya fever or dengue fever so [that] people travelling to those areas can be careful for mosquito bites," he told RTHK.

"And also, for the frontline doctors, when they're asking for the travel history, they can be alert to which group of patients will be more likely to be infected with these viruses."

Kwan said that the risk of the disease being transmitted in the community is "very low" at the moment.

But he went on to say that as the SAR is experiencing a rainy reason that can lead to mosquito infestation across the region, a small outbreak is possible if there are more imported cases.