Fish Skin Infection Source Needs Tracing: Doctor

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2021-10-21 HKT 09:43

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  Dr Joseph Tsang says invasive Group B Streptococcus is an ordinary and common pathogen found on the surface of fish skins. Photo: Shutterstock

An infectious diseases expert says authorities should trace the source of a bacterial infection linked to fish skins, that has recently seen a spike.

Dr Joseph Tsang says invasive Group B Streptococcus is an ordinary and common pathogen found on the surface of the skins. But Hong Kong recorded 79 cases over the past two months, with seven of the patients dying, compared to between nine and 26 cases a month over the past three years.

Tsang said authorities need to explain the sudden spike in cases.

"This is quite a clustering of outbreak cases that warrants further investigation," he said.

Tsang said fish transportation should also be looked into, to see whether any contamination occurred there, as well as in wholesale market fish tanks.