appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Jess Ma

Health authorities are investigating a human case of rat hepatitis E – the first recorded in Hong Kong this year – and have urged the public to observe good hygiene practices and use effective rodent control measures.
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Saturday that the case involved a 42-year-old man with chronic liver disease, whose blood sample tested positive for the virus on May 5.
“Based on current epidemiological data, the CHP considered that the patient was more likely to have acquired the infection locally,” he said.
The case marks the first instance of a human infected by rat hepatitis E this year.
According to the CHP, the patient said he had not been in direct contact with rats, and had not seen any rodents at his home or workplace, both located in Hung Hom.
The South China Morning Post learned that the man lived at Laguna Verde, a private housing estate, and worked at One Harbourfront.
The spokesman added that the man had taken brief trips in April, but no rat hepatitis E virus cases had been reported so far in those destinations. The spokesman did not reveal where those locations were.
“The patient remained in stable condition and was discharged yesterday [Friday],” the spokesman said. “His three household contacts are currently asymptomatic. They will be put under medical surveillance.”
He added that authorities did not rule out the possibility that the man might have contracted the virus from food or from places contaminated by rats or their excrement.
The infection was discovered on May 5, when the man was referred to the accident and emergency department of Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, after an appointment at another private hospital to review a pre-existing condition.
The patient was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital on the same day for further examination. His blood sample tested positive for the virus.
Since the man’s release, his three household contacts have remained asymptomatic as of Saturday.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis E include fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, skin rash, joint pain and a slightly enlarged and tender liver.

Individuals with other liver diseases, including chronic liver illness, belong to a high-risk group who are more likely to have hepatitis and abnormal liver function after being infected with rat hepatitis E.
Humans can contract the virus by ingesting food or water contaminated by rodents or their excrement, or by being exposed to other contaminated environments or objects.
The spokesman called on residents to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene. Apart from washing their hands and storing food properly, residents were also urged to use 1:99 diluted household bleach for cleaning, as ordinary household detergents may not kill the virus.
Family doctor Edmund Lam Wing-wo said human infections of rat hepatitis E were rare, with one or two cases in the city per year.
“Hong Kong has rats, but there are only a few cases,” Lam said. “This means there may not be many rats carrying the virus in the city.”
The doctor explained that humans could contract the virus if the food they consumed had been contaminated by rats’ excrement or were touched by the animal.


Hong Kong must address the systemic lapses behind hospital lift failures

Focused ultrasound could be the next big cancer breakthrough for hard-to-treat tumours

Patient who needed soft food dies after choking on regular meal at public hospital

Doctors urged to test for chikungunya as Hong Kong detects first local 2026 case

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Man infected with rat hepatitis E, Hong Kong’s first case this year

The patient was referred to Queen Mary Hospital’s accident and emergency department following a medical appointment at a private hospital. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Centre for Health Protection officers check for rodent infestation near the patient’s residence. Photo: Handout

Health authorities order halt to use of medical devices tied to patient’s death

The elderly man was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital last week. Photo: Jelly Tse

Medical blunder probe opened over death linked to improperly sealed catheter

A report into the alleged blunder at Tuen Mun Hospital is expected within eight weeks. Photo: Jelly Tse

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Patient, 42, says he did not encounter rodents at home or at work before positive test on May 5, while three household contacts remain asymptomatic


Patient, 42, says he did not encounter rodents at home or at work before positive test on May 5, while three household contacts remain asymptomatic.


Centre for Health Protection

Man infected with rat hepatitis E, Hong Kong’s first case this year

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Patient, 42, says he did not encounter rodents at home or at work before positive test on May 5, while three household contacts remain asymptomatic

Patient, 42, says he did not encounter rodents at home or at work before positive test on May 5, while three household contacts remain asymptomatic