Key facts
- Hong Kong recorded 21 mpox cases since August, comprising 70% of this year's total.
- The latest case brings the total for the year to 30, with 23 local and 7 imported.
- The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is urging high-risk individuals to get vaccinated.
- High-risk sexual contact, particularly with strangers and via dating apps, is a key risk factor.
- Since 2022, Hong Kong has recorded 114 mpox cases, all in males.
- Vaccine administration has increased by over 70% this month compared to last month.
Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is urging individuals at high risk of mpox infection to get vaccinated and take protective measures following a surge in cases. Since August, 21 new mpox cases have been recorded, accounting for 70% of the total for this year. The latest case, a 29-year-old man, brought the year's total to 30, comprising 23 local and seven imported infections.
The CHP is intensifying public education and outreach, including an mpox hotline and social media campaigns, and has alerted doctors to notify the health department of suspected cases. The agency is investigating two recent confirmed cases involving men who reported high-risk sexual contact with other men in Hong Kong. Both patients developed symptoms including rashes and fever, and are in stable condition.
Epidemiological investigations indicate that high-risk sexual contact, particularly with strangers or multiple partners without condoms, is a significant risk factor. Many recent cases reported using dating apps to find partners. The CHP stressed the importance of retaining contact information of sexual partners to aid contact tracing. Since 2022, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 114 mpox cases, all of which have been in males. The number of mpox vaccines administered has significantly increased, surging by over 70% earlier this month compared to the same period last month.