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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 15) closely monitoring the latest epidemiological updates on Zika virus infection of the World Health Organization (WHO), 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 WHO, to date, 34 countries and areas have reported autochthonous Zika virus transmission or locally acquired infection since 2015, six with indication of viral circulation and one with a locally acquired case without vector borne transmission. They are detailed as follows:
A. Reported autochthonous transmission (34)
Africa (one): Cape Verde;
Americas (26): Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin, Suriname, the US Virgin Islands, Venezuela;
Southeast Asia (two): Maldives, Thailand;
Western Pacific (five): American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu;
B. Indication of viral circulation (six)
Africa (one): Gabon;
Southeast Asia (one): Indonesia;
Western Pacific (four): Cambodia, Fiji, the Philippines, Malaysia; and
C. Locally acquired without vector borne transmission (one)
Americas (one): the United States.
Of note, six countries, namely Brazil, French Polynesia, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia and Suriname, have reported an increase in the incidence of cases of microcephaly and/or Guillain-Barrˆm syndrome (GBS) in conjunction with a Zika outbreak. Puerto Rico and Martinique have reported GBS cases associated with Zika without an increase of incidence. No scientific evidence to date has confirmed a link between Zika virus and microcephaly or GBS.
As Zika virus has also been found in human semen and two reports of transmission from one person to another through sexual contact have been confirmed, the WHO has recommended that all men and women returning from affected areas, especially pregnant women and their partners, should practise safe sex, including the correct and consistent use of condoms. Travellers should closely adhere to anti-mosquito steps during travel.
The latest WHO Zika epidemiological update can be accessed at its website (www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/situation-report/en).
"Our ongoing travel health advice and special notes to travellers, pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy, as well as on sexual transmission, are in line with the WHO's recommendations," a spokesman for the DH said.
To prevent Zika, 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 case was reported.
The public may visit the pages below for more disease information and health advice:
* The CHP's Zika 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/Monday, February 15, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:03
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