HK reports surge in Mpox cases linked to dating apps

Hong Kong reports a new confirmed Mpox case.

The Centre for Health Protection says there is a surge of 21 cases in the past two months.

More than half of them used dating apps to find strangers for sex but lost contact, making it difficult for the centre to track the cases.

Mpox cases in Hong Kong surged in recent months, with the latest case involving a 29-year-old man.

He developed rashes on his buttocks and limbs on September 28, followed by a fever and swollen lymph nodes.

More than a week after the onset of symptoms, staff noticed his condition when he visited an outreach centre for vaccination on Thursday.

The man was immediately sent to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and treatment.

Clinical tests confirmed he is positive for Mpox.

The centre says he had high-risk sexual contact with a man in Hong Kong during the incubation period.

The Centre for Health Protection says 30 Mpox cases have been recorded this year, all involving men. 70%, or 21 cases, were confirmed in August.

More than half of the recent cases involve using dating apps to find casual sex partners.

The centre adds they cannot contact some of these individuals, hindering effective tracking.

Consultant in Infectious Disease Dr. Wilson Lam says genetic sequencing by the centre shows some cases share the same virus strain, indicating a common source or multiple transmission chains.

He warns high-risk groups, such as those with multiple partners or who meet strangers online for sex, face a higher risk of infection in the near future.

However, he notes Mpox does not spread through the air or droplets, meaning the chance of general social transmission remains low.

He reminds high-risk groups to get vaccinated, avoid unsafe sex, and seek medical help immediately if they develop symptoms.