Hong Kong on Thursday reported two new imported cases of chikungunya fever, involving two elderly people of the same family who recently travelled to Guangzhou.

The city has now recorded 16 imported cases of the mosquito-borne disease this year.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said the latest patients, a 79-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man from Sha Tin, visited Panyu District in Guangzhou from August 30 to September 6.

They both developed fever, headache and joint pain on September 9. The woman also developed a rash.

The pair sought medical treatment a day later and were admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital.

Laboratory tests confirmed they tested positive for the chikungunya virus.

The CHP said there is one household contact who did not travel to Guangzhou and is asymptomatic, but under medical surveillance.

As the two patients had stayed in Guangzhou during their incubation periods, the CHP classified the cases as imported and has reported them to the Guangdong health authority.

Health authorities reminded the public to check the chikungunya situation at their travel destinations, noting that while the outbreak in Guangdong has eased since late August, many countries are still reporting new cases.