Hong Kong Confirms New Rat Hepatitis E Case Linked to Kowloon City Care Home
On.cc · 4 SOURCES1 day ago3 MIN
Summary
The Centre for Health Protection announced on September 30, 2026, a new confirmed human case of rat hepatitis E infection in Hong Kong. The patient is an 80-year-old woman who is a family member of a 91-year-old male patient whose infection was announced last week. Both patients reside at the same care home in Kowloon City and share similar daily activity patterns .
Laboratory tests conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed the woman's blood sample tested positive for rat hepatitis E virus. She has remained asymptomatic throughout and her condition is stable .
Epidemiological investigations revealed that neither patient had travelled during the incubation period, had direct contact with rodents or mice, nor observed any rodent activity within the care home premises. Both patients frequently dined at a restaurant in Ho Man Tin Plaza in addition to meals provided at the care home .
The Centre for Health Protection has arranged for the woman to undergo further hospital examination and evaluation. Family members, other residents, and staff at the care home have shown no symptoms and remain under medical surveillance. No additional confirmed cases have been found so far .
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has inspected the implicated restaurant, which remains closed for cleaning and disinfection. The venue has been instructed to implement rodent prevention measures and has received environmental health education and pest control advice from the department .
Key Points
- The new patient is an 80-year-old woman, a family member of the previously announced 91-year-old male patient at the same Kowloon City care home
- The woman's blood sample tested positive for rat hepatitis E virus despite showing no symptoms; she remains in stable condition
- Both patients regularly dined at a restaurant in Ho Man Tin Plaza at least once or twice weekly, aside from meals at the care home
- The restaurant has been ordered to suspend operations for cleaning and disinfection; the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department provided pest control guidance
- This case marks the fourth rat hepatitis E infection recorded in Hong Kong this year; all contacts remain asymptomatic with no secondary cases detected
Why It Matters
The clustering of two rat hepatitis E cases within the same care home, linked epidemiologically to a common external dining location, underscores the ongoing risk of zoonotic transmission in urban Hong Kong . The closure of the implicated restaurant highlights the potential for foodborne or environmental contamination from rodents to cause human infections even when direct rodent contact is not observed . As Hong Kong records its fourth case this year, health authorities face continued pressure to strengthen rodent control measures and monitor for potential community transmission from rat populations .
The clustering of two rat hepatitis E cases within the same care home, linked epidemiologically to a common external dining location, underscores the ongoing risk of zoonotic transmission in urban Hong Kong . The closure of the implicated restaurant highlights the potential for foodborne or environmental contamination from rodents to cause human infections even when direct rodent contact is not observed . As Hong Kong records its fourth case this year, health authorities face continued pressure to strengthen rodent control measures and monitor for potential community transmission from rat populations .