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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (July 8) closely monitoring the latest Zika virus update of the World Health Organization (WHO), and again urged the public to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures and safe sex during travel. Pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should not travel to affected areas.
According to the WHO, Guinea-Bissau and Spain recently reported mosquito-borne and person-to-person Zika virus transmission respectively. To date, 65 countries/areas have documented mosquito-borne transmission since 2007 while 11 have reported evidence of person-to-person transmission probably by sexual contact (see attachment). Based on research to date, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barrˆm syndrome.
"We are maintaining close liaison with the WHO as well as overseas, neighbouring and Mainland health authorities to closely monitor the latest developments," a spokesman for the CHP said.
The public should pay special attention to affected areas and observe the health advice and special notes below during travel.
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 draws the public's attention to the special notes below:
A. Travelling abroad
* If going to areas with ongoing Zika virus 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, such as having a fever, seek medical advice as soon as possible, and provide travel details to the doctor;
* Travellers should consider not having sex during travel to affected areas, or else condoms should be used;
* Travellers returning from affected areas should consider abstinence for at least two months upon return, or else condoms should be used. If male travellers returning from affected areas are diagnosed with Zika Virus Infection or have compatible symptoms, they should consider abstinence for at least six months upon onset, or else condoms should be used;
B. Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy
* Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy should not travel 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 at least two months after returning from affected areas if they have no symptoms of Zika Virus Infection, or six months if one or both members of the couple are symptomatic;
C. Special notes for prevention of sexual transmission regarding adverse pregnancy outcomes
* Pregnant women should not have sex with male partners who have travelled to affected areas, or else condoms should be used;
* Any male traveller returning from affected areas should:
(i) Abstain from sex with his pregnant partner, or else use condoms throughout the pregnancy; and
(ii) Use condoms for at least six months if his female partner may get pregnant.
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);
* Anti-mosquito precautions for women (www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html); and
* The WHO Zika virus situation reports (www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en).
Ends/Friday, July 8, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:34
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