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Oscar Liu

Residents at a private housing estate in Hong Kong have stepped up pest prevention measures as authorities investigate the city’s first human case of rat hepatitis E recorded this year.
Janitors were seen deep-cleaning public areas at the 25-block Laguna Verde estate in Hung Hom on Sunday, with sanitation efforts also encompassing the area’s waterfront promenade park, planters and the nearby shopping centre.
A day earlier, health authorities revealed that a 42-year-old patient was found to have hepatitis E on May 5 during a follow-up visit to a private hospital for a pre-existing condition, with his blood samples testing positive for the virus.
The South China Morning Post learned that the man lived at Laguna Verde and worked at One Harbourfront.
The patient was discharged in stable condition on Friday following treatment at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam.
Officials have not ruled out transmission via food or environments contaminated with rodent excrement, noting the patient reported no encounters with rats at home or work.
While the man took brief trips abroad in April, no cases had been reported in those undisclosed destinations. His three household contacts remained asymptomatic and were placed under medical surveillance.

Cheung Yin-ping, 62, a homemaker living at Laguna Verde, said she was not too concerned about the situation but was stepping up her household hygiene routine.
“I will make sure all household rubbish is double-bagged before it goes down the chute, because food waste is what attracts pests the most. I will also tell my domestic helper to sweep and mop the dining area after every single meal,” she said.
Retiree Chan Wai-keung, 65, also said he was not too alarmed as such cases were rare.
“Honestly, we don’t even know if the patient actually caught it here at the estate or somewhere else. We will just keep up with our daily cleaning routine and be more mindful of washing our hands every once in a while,” he said.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis E include fever, nausea, abdominal pain, a rash and an enlarged, tender liver. The virus is typically contracted by consuming food or water contaminated by rodents, or through direct exposure to infected environments.
Individuals with pre-existing chronic liver diseases are at a higher risk of developing severe hepatitis and acute liver failure if infected.
Rachel Wong, a clerk living at the estate, said she did not even know an infection had occurred, adding that she had been vigilant about household hygiene with summer approaching.
“The summer temperature and humidity bring out all sorts of pests anyway. I am actually more concerned about cockroaches flying in,” the 35-year-old said.
“We just need to be vigilant, keep the windows covered, and never leave food sitting out on the table or the countertop.”
The Centre for Health Protection urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene.
Alongside proper hand washing and food storage, officials emphasised using 1:99 diluted household bleach for disinfection, noting that standard household detergents might not be strong enough to kill the virus.


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Hong Kong society

Estate residents step up cleaning after city’s first rat hepatitis case this year

Laguna Verde is a 25-block estate in Hung Hom. Photo: Sam Tsang

The Centre for Health Protection is investigating the first local human infection of rat hepatitis E virus this year. Photo: Handout

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

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News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Janitors were seen deep-cleaning public areas at Laguna Verde, where patient reportedly lived, on Sunday


Janitors were seen deep-cleaning public areas at Laguna Verde, where patient reportedly lived, on Sunday.


Centre for Health Protection

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Disease

Estate residents step up cleaning after city’s first rat hepatitis case this year

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Janitors were seen deep-cleaning public areas at Laguna Verde, where patient reportedly lived, on Sunday

Janitors were seen deep-cleaning public areas at Laguna Verde, where patient reportedly lived, on Sunday