Opinion Poll 意見調查 Email Alert 電郵快訊

 

Story maps
故事地圖


Headaches near pig farms 豬場周邊的煩惱

(added on 2013/08/30)

©2013 SpatioEpi.com
Map created by CUHK SpatioEpi Group

Back

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-borne viral infection, of which pigs and wild birds are the natural reservoirs. It poses public health threats in some South and South-east Asian countries.

In Hong Kong, there were 11 local JE cases and 5 imported cases since 2003. Most of the infections were reported in June and July. The hot and humid weather during this period favours breeding of the vector.

The map shows the distribution of all reported JE cases in Hong Kong in the past 10 years. As depicted by black solid dots, the majority were residents in Yuen Long District. Location of all eight cases in Yuen Long were within 2 kilometres of pig farms. Three local cases occurring in areas not in the proximity of pig farms may possibly be explained by their contacts with wild birds or infected mosquitoes brought through air currents.

Data for the map were extracted from media reports.

日本腦炎是一種經蚊子傳播的疾病,致病原是一種以豬隻或野鳥為天然宿主的病毒。日本腦炎一直為部分南亞及東南亞國家帶來公共衛生的威脅。

自2003年,香港共有11宗本地日本腦炎個案及5宗外地傳入個案,大部分患者均於六月至七月期間受到感染。這段時間的香港炎熱多雨,有利病媒滋生。

地圖顯示過去十年本港所有已呈報的日本腦炎個案分佈。依圖中的黑色圓點所示,大部分本地個案的患者都居於元朗區(共8宗),而離他們居所的兩公里範圍內均發現豬場。另外3宗本地個案的患者並不是居於豬場附近,他們的感染或與受感染的野鳥或被氣流帶離豬場的蚊隻相關。

地圖資料源自不同的媒體報導。

Related Article

Japanese encephalitis 日本腦炎

What is Japanese encephalitis? 什麼是日本腦炎?

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus. Most infected cases are asymptomatic while some may develop mild symptoms such as fever with headache. Symptoms usually start at 4 – 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. In severe cases, initial symptoms include quick onset of high fever, headache and neck stiffness, followed by impaired mental state, tremors, occasional convulsions, paralysis and coma.

There is no specific treatment for Japanese encephalitis. Supportive therapy is indicated. Case fatality rate ranges from 5% to 35%.

日本腦炎是一種經蚊子傳播的疾病。此病由日本腦炎病毒引致,大部分感染者均無明顯病徵,輕微病患者會發燒及頭痛,而病徵一般於被帶有病毒的蚊子叮咬後四至十四天內出現。病情嚴重的患者初時會有發高燒、頭痛、頸部僵硬等症狀,繼而出現神志不清、震顫、抽搐、癱瘓及昏迷等神經系統受感染的病徵。

目前日本腦炎並沒有特定的治療方法,醫生一般對患者施以支援性治療。此病的死亡率介乎百分之五至三十五之間。

How does it spread? 如何傳播?

Culex species mosquitoes are the principal vector for JE. The mosquitoes become infected by feeding on pigs and wild birds infected with JE virus. The virus is then transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Humans are dead-end hosts for JE virus. The disease cannot directly be transmitted from person to person.

日本腦炎不會直接人傳人。庫蚊是傳播日本腦炎的主要病媒,蚊子叮咬受感染的豬隻或野鳥後會帶有病毒,再叮咬人類而將病毒傳播。人類是日本腦炎病毒的終端宿主。

Vaccine? Prevention? 如何預防?

There is a vaccine available for JE but it is not recommended for massive immunization in Hong Kong. Eliminating breeding grounds of mosquitoes and avoiding mosquito bites are two main preventive measures for the disease.

現時香港有疫苗可預防日本腦炎,但並不建議市民廣泛接種。清除蚊子滋生地及避免被蚊子叮咬仍是兩種有效預防日本腦炎的措施。


Related maps 相關地圖

Other resources 其他資訊

Organisations 有關機構

Further information 詳細資料