June 22, 201115 yr A note for travellers to Hong Kong. WIth the news of a second child having died of scarlet fever in the territory, officials are concerned that an epidemic could be under way. So far this year, 466 cases of the disease have been reported in Hong Kong, the highest annual number ever reported in the city. Health authorities said Tuesday that they suspect the latest infections are due to a new strain of the disease that is more easily transmitted and resistant to standard antibiotics. About 90% of the cases this year have been in children under 10. As a precaution, Hong Kong has moved to shut down primary schools and kindergartens in an effort to contain the outbreak. According to a report from the BBC, cases of the illness have also been reported in mainland China and Macau http://www.marketwatch.com/story/scarlet-fever-strikes-hong-kong-2011-06-22
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