An infectious diseases expert on Friday said the immediate threat of meningitis is not high in Hong Kong despite the ongoing outbreak in Britain.

Lau Yu-lung, chairman of the scientific committee on vaccine preventable diseases at the Centre for Health Protection, told RTHK the disease can be spread through close contact, including kissing, sharing of utensils and sneezing or coughing.

He warned meningitis is extremely severe, and the death rate can be quite high if individuals do not get vaccinated against it.

The professor noted that no Hong Kong students are involved in the outbreak in Kent, but still, those studying aboard should be cautious.

"For those who are returning to Hong Kong and if they have any symptoms that suggest meningitis like high fever, headache, stiff neck, then they should really be alerted to seek help from doctors as soon as possible," he said.

"In particular, if they have rashes on the skin and that rash is not blanchable, that means when you press on it and it doesn't go away, it still remains there, then it's suggesting it could be what we call blood poisoning [due to meningitis]."

He added that patients will develop rashes at a very late stage, and that they should get help once they feel unwell.

Lau said the city recorded 11 cases in total last year, and three so far this year, and that the incidence rate here is much lower than in places such as Europe.

"And that's why the committee did not think last time when we met, we needed to have a population-based vaccination programme," he said.

"However, the message from the committee is very clear — if you are going to stay in Europe, or in places where you know there will be outbreaks, especially if you are students staying in a dormitory, the advice is to get all the vaccinations before you leave."


Edited by Tony Sabine