CHP investigates HK's first human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus of the year
發佈日期: 2026-05-16 20:13
TVB News
The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a local case of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus, involving a 42-year-old Hung Hom resident with chronic liver diseases.
This marks the first case of human infection of rat HEV recorded so far this year.
While attending a follow-up appointment at a private hospital for his pre-existing condition on May 5, he was found to have abnormal liver function.
His blood sample later tested positive for rat HEV upon lab testing.
He reported no direct contact with rodents or rats.
Patients with liver diseases are more likely to show hepatitis symptoms and abnormal liver function after infected by rat HEV.
The CHP does not rule out the possibility that the patient may have indirectly come into contact with places or food contaminated by rats or their excreta during the incubation period.
Authorities conducted field inspections of the environmental hygiene conditions in the vicinity of the patient's residence, workplace and daily commute route.
In the past five years from 2021 to 2025, Hong Kong recorded an average of zero to two cases of rat HEV per year.
