The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection announced on 18 October that 79 patients had been hospitalized with invasive Streptococcus b in the past 40 days, a significant increase over the past three years.
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority said seven of the 79 infections died, 38 were hospitalized and 34 discharged.
Some infectious and infectious disease specialists believe that the mortality rate of this disease is between 6.5% and 11%, and the mortality rate in Hong Kong is similar to the historical record, but the outbreak of invasive streptococcal b is quite rare and should be taken seriously by the public and should be doubly careful when handling freshwater fish.
It was this deadly germ that brought them down
The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection announced earlier that between September and October 10 this year, there were 79 cases of invasive streptococcal beta infection, involving 42 men and 37 women, aged between 1 month and 96 years old, who mainly developed sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis or abscess/cellulitis.
Investigations revealed that some of the patients had been exposed to freshwater fish, including anchovies, prior to the onset of the disease, and some reported that they had wounds on their hands when handling uncooked freshwater fish, or that they had become infected as a result.
The Centre for Health Protection collected environmental and fish samples from the Tsuen Wan Yang Uk Road Market and "Jidi Jade Hong Kong Industrial Limited" in Yuen Long, which were tested for serum genotype 283 (st283), which coincided with at least 32 cases.
Infectious and infectious disease specialist Lin Weixun said that invasive streptococcus b is a common bacterium, but there are few outbreaks, patients are usually individual pregnant women or newborn babies, such as early pregnancy in the urinary system found invasive streptococcus b, doctors will prescribe antibiotics to reduce the impact on the fetus.
Another route of infection is the eating or handling of freshwater fish that are not fully cooked. Because the bacteria are not resistant, it is not difficult to treat, but if the brain is infected and inflammation occurs, high doses of antibiotics should be prescribed, or up to 1 to 2 months.
Image source: Visual China
Once invasive Streptococcus b enters the bloodstream, it can destroy different organs of the human body, resulting in sepsis, meningitis, etc., which can be seriously fatal.
But in the beginning, it will be very "gentle". Taking Streptococcus st283 beta as an example, in the early days, people only felt a little fever and physical discomfort, and there was no particularly intense performance.
In the later stage, people's cervical vertebrae, spine, joints, ankles and other locations may be invaded, causing serious infections, and even osteonecrosis amputation or death. If it is parasitic in pregnant women for a long time, it may also induce meningitis in the baby.
Singapore has also "exploded"
The United Nations Organization of Agriculture (UNAW) issued a warning
In fact, the emergence of Streptococcus b in Hong Kong this time is not the first time in the world. As early as 2015, Singapore's National Environment Agency announced it.
Of the 355 infections in Singapore at the time, 150 were suspected of being infected by eating sashimi, 2 of them died and some had their limbs amputated to save their lives.
On 5 December of that year, Singapore announced an indefinite ban on retailers such as vendors and buffet suppliers from selling freshwater sashimi, and violators could be ordered to suspend business.
At present, in addition to Hong Kong, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries have also found cases of invasive infection with streptococcal b.
Among them, the invasive Streptococcus st283b is in Thailand and Laos, and the proportion of infected people is as high as 70%. Moreover, more than 20% of infections are in healthy adults without comorbidities.
The United Nations Organization for Agriculture (UNAF) has issued a warning to be careful about eating tilapia, a freshwater fish widely consumed in Southeast Asia.
Wear gloves when handling seafood
Cook and eat
In order to avoid the drag of Streptococcus beta, experts recommend that you avoid eating raw freshwater fish, you should be extra careful, you must cook thoroughly before eating.
In addition, wear gloves when handling seafood fish and shrimp, and avoid touching raw fish with bare hands. People with wounds on their hands and immunity problems should be extra careful. If a wound appears, it should be properly disinfected and treated immediately, and do not delay the treatment of medical treatment.
As long as sufficient precautions are taken, there is no need to worry too much.
Source: Jimu News