Press Release

CHP notified of additional imported case of Zika Virus Infection on Mainland

11 March 2016

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 11) received notification of an additional imported case of Zika Virus Infection on the Mainland from the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The CHP again urged the public to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures during travel. Pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to the affected areas.

The case involves a 19-year-old man who lives in Venezuela. He arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on February 29 and shortly later on the same day travelled to Enping, Jiangmen, Guangdong, by bus via Shenzhen Bay Control Point. He remained afebrile during his travel. He developed a rash on March 9 and subsequently was laboratory confirmed to be an imported case of Zika Virus Infection by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The patient is now hospitalised for isolation and management and is in stable condition.

To date, 13 imported cases of Zika Virus Infection have been notified on the Mainland.

The DH's Port Health Office has stepped up inspections at the Boundary Control Points (BCPs) and airport to maintain strict environmental hygiene with effective mosquito control. Port Health Inspectors have reinforced training for contractors of BCPs, including the airport, harbour ports and ground crossings, on port hygiene and pest control for effective vector prevention. Health promotion in BCPs has been enhanced through pamphlets and posters to alert travellers to necessary measures against Zika.

"Routine health surveillance on the body temperature of inbound travellers at all boundary control points is ongoing. Suspected cases will be referred to healthcare facilities for follow-up. However, at present, around 70 to 80 per cent of infected people are asymptomatic and most can recover fully. Therefore, we again urge those arriving from Zika-affected areas to apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival to reduce the risk of transmission," the spokesman for the DH said.

The DH has been working closely 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 on the latest disease information and health advice.

As long as there is international travel, there is always a risk of the introduction of the Zika virus to Hong Kong. As asymptomatic infection is very common and the potential vector, Aedes albopictus, is present locally, there is also the risk of local spread if Zika is introduced to Hong Kong.

The public should pay special attention to the countries/areas with reports/indications of autochthonous Zika virus transmission announced earlier by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The DH has been maintaining close liaison with the WHO as well as overseas, neighbouring and 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 the 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. Special notes for prevention of sexual transmission regarding potential adverse pregnancy outcomes

• Pregnant women should not have sex with male partners who have travelled to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission, or else condoms should be used throughout the pregnancy;
• 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 a condom 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 ); and
• Anti-mosquito precautions for women ( www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html ).