According to a recent report from the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong travelers visiting Japan are facing a heightened risk of Streptococcus pyogenes infections as an outbreak continues to spread.
The Hong Kong Department of Health confirmed that a Hong Kong man died in Japan due to necrotizing fasciitis caused by a previous Streptococcus pyogenes infection. Ho Pak-leung, a leading microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Infection, warned that although the overall risk of contracting the bacteria during travel is not particularly high, the peak period for Streptococcus pyogenes in Japan has not yet passed.
Ho Pak-leung explained that Streptococcus pyogenes outbreaks typically occur every 5 to 10 years. Hong Kong experienced a significant increase in cases between 2011 and 2017. In Japan, however, there has been a noticeable rise in cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome since the fourth quarter of the previous year. The number of cases further escalated between January and February of this year, with 335 cases reported during the first 11 weeks alone. This figure is several times higher than the average of 48 cases per year recorded over the past six years. Although there has been a slight decrease in infections since March, the levels still remain elevated, indicating that the peak period has not yet subsided.
Ho Pak-leung believes that the surge in local cases in Japan may be attributed to the relaxation of preventive measures and a possible decline in public awareness regarding infection control. He stressed the importance of promptly and properly treating any wounds that occur while traveling, as well as seeking medical attention if necessary, to prevent severe complications following infection. Additionally, he recommended wearing masks in crowded areas to reduce the risk of transmission.
Travelers from Hong Kong planning trips to Japan should be aware of the ongoing Streptococcus pyogenes outbreak and take necessary precautions to protect their health.
香港旅客在日本面臨鏈球菌感染風險
根據香港大學的最新報告指出，香港旅客在訪問日本時面臨著鏈球菌感染的高風險，而這一爆發情況仍在持續擴散。香港衛生署最近證實，一名香港男子在日本因之前感染的鏈球菌引起的壞疽性筋膜炎而去世。香港大學感染中心的頂尖微生物學家何百亮指出，雖然旅行中感染鏈球菌的總體風險並不特別高，但是日本的鏈球菌高峰期尚未過去。
何百亮解釋說，鏈球菌爆發通常每5至10年發生一次。香港在2011年至2017年間病例數大幅增加。然而，日本自去年第四季度以來的鏈球菌中毒性休克綜合症病例明顯增加。今年1月至2月期間，僅11個星期內就報告了335例病例，這個數字是過去6年平均每年48例的數倍。雖然自3月以來感染病例有所減少，但水平仍然較高，表明高峰期尚未結束。
何百亮認為，日本本地病例的激增可能歸因於預防措施的放鬆以及公眾對感染控制的意識可能下降。他強調了在旅行時及時適當地處理任何傷口以及必要時尋求醫療幫助，以防止感染後出現嚴重併發症。此外，他建議在擁擠的地區戴口罩以減少傳播風險。
計劃前往日本的來自香港的旅客應該意識到目前仍在持續的鏈球菌爆發情況，並採取必要的預防措施保護自己的健康。
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