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[TD="class: featurebluetxt, width: 435, align: left"]10 February 2016[/TD]
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[TD="class: featuretitletxt, width: 435, align: left"]CHP notified of first imported case of Zika Virus Infection in Mainland
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification late last night (February 9) of the first imported case of Zika Virus Infection in the Mainland from the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), and again urged the public, particularly pregnant women, those planning pregnancy and immunocompromised patients, to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures during travel.
According to the NHFPC, the
male patient aged 34 from Ganxian, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, works in Dongguan, Guangdong. He developed fever, dizziness and headache in Venezuela on January 28 and attended a local hospital for management. He then travelled to Hong Kong on February 3 and stayed in Hong Kong International Airport until he transferred to Shenzhen by ferry on February 4. Upon arrival in Ganzhou on February 5, he was hospitalised for isolation and management on February 6. As of last night, he was afebrile with skin rash subsided.
The case was laboratory confirmed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on February 9.
"Locally, as the patient has been staying within the airport with no other local movements in Hong Kong, and Zika virus is mainly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, our Port Health Office has stepped up inspection in the airport to maintain strict environmental hygiene with effective mosquito control. Port Health Inspectors have reinforced training for contractors of boundary control points (BCPs) on port hygiene and pest control for effective vector prevention," a spokesman for the DH said.
"We again urge those arriving from Zika-affected areas to apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival to reduce the risk of transmission. Routine health surveillance on body temperature of inbound travellers at all BCPs is ongoing. Suspected cases will be referred to healthcare facilities for follow-up. Health promotion in BCPs have been enhanced through pamphlets and posters to alert travellers to necessary measures against Zika," the spokesman added.
The DH has been closely working with the travel industry and stakeholders, especially agents operating tours in Zika-affected areas and personnel receiving travellers in those areas (particularly pregnant women), to regularly update them of the latest disease information and health advice.
As long as there is international travel, there is always risk of introduction of Zika virus to Hong Kong. As asymptomatic infection is very common and the potential vector, Aedes albopictus, is present locally, there is also risk of local spread in case Zika is introduced to Hong Kong. The public should pay special attention to the 33 countries with reported autochthonous circulation of Zika virus and the six other countries with indirect evidence of local transmission earlier announced by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The DH has been maintaining close liaison with the WHO as well as overseas, neighbouring and the Mainland health authorities to closely monitor the latest developments of Zika.
Locally, no human Zika cases have been reported to the CHP to date.
To prevent Zika Virus Infection, in addition to general anti-mosquito measures, the DH drew the public's attention to special notes below:
(A) Travelling abroad
* If going to areas with ongoing Zika transmission (affected areas), travellers, especially those with immune disorders or severe chronic illnesses, should arrange consultation with a doctor at least six weeks before the trip, and take extra preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites;
* Those arriving from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival. If feeling unwell, e.g. having fever, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible, and provide travel details to a doctor;
(B) Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy
* Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to affected areas. Those who must travel should seek medical advice from their doctor before the trip, adopt contraception if appropriate, strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip, and consult and reveal their travel history to their doctor if symptoms develop after the trip. Women preparing for pregnancy are advised to continue to adopt contraception for 28 days after returning from these areas; and
(C) Prevention of sexual transmission
* If a female partner is at risk of getting pregnant or is already pregnant, condom use is advised for a male traveller:
(i) For 28 days after his return from affected areas if he had no symptoms of unexplained fever and rash; or
(ii) For six months following recovery if a clinical illness compatible with Zika or laboratory confirmed Zika Virus Infection was reported.
The public may visit the pages below for more disease information and health advice:
* The CHP's Zika Virus Infection page (
www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/43086.html);
* The Zika page of the DH's Travel Health Service (
www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup_zika.html);
* The Outbound Travel Alert page of the Security Bureau (
www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota); and
* Anti-mosquito precautions for women (
www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html).
Ends/Wednesday, February 10, 2016
http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/116/43309.html
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