Hong Kong Measles Case: 187 Close Contacts Linked to Indonesia Trip

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating an imported case of measles in Hong Kong. Health officials are using the incident to remind the public that vaccination remains the most effective method for preventing the disease.

The case involves a 39-year-old female who had not received a measles vaccination. The patient travelled alone to Indonesia during her incubation period. Because measles outbreaks are currently ongoing in Indonesia, the CHP has classified this as an imported case.

Timeline of Symptoms and Treatment

The patient first developed a sore throat, cough with sputum, and a fever on April 5, 2026. By April 7, she developed a rash and sought medical attention at a private clinic and the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH).

Due to persistent symptoms, the woman returned to PYNEH on April 9, 2026, where she was admitted for treatment. Nucleic acid testing of her clinical specimen confirmed the presence of the measles virus. The patient has since recovered and been discharged.

Contact Tracing and Public Health Surveillance

The CHP has identified a total of 187 close contacts as of 5 p.m. On April 16, 2026. This group includes one household contact who lives with the patient and two individuals who accompanied her to the clinic and hospitals for medical care.

The remaining close contacts were identified as people who were present in the same hospital ward or clinic as the patient during the same time period. The CHP is continuing medical surveillance for these individuals, and as of April 16, 2026, none of the close contacts have developed measles symptoms.

The investigation focused on the patient’s communicable period, which occurred between April 3 and April 11, 2026. During this window, the patient’s movements included:

• Daily visits as a visitor to Tung Wah Eastern Hospital from April 3 to April 5, 2026.
• Visits to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and a private clinic between April 7 and April 9, 2026.

The CHP has contacted these medical facilities to identify all close contacts and determine if any high-risk individuals were exposed to the virus.

Public Health Context and Vaccination

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. While Hong Kong maintains a two-dose measles vaccination coverage rate of over 95 per cent through its Childhood Immunisation Programme, the city’s role as an international travel hub continues to pose a risk for imported cases.

Public health officials emphasize that vaccination is the primary defense against the spread of the virus. The current investigation highlights the risk associated with unvaccinated individuals travelling to regions where measles outbreaks are active.

The CHP will continue to investigate and follow up on this case to ensure no further transmission occurs within the community.