Press Release

CHP closely monitors latest WHO Zika update

24 June 2016

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 24) 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, Anguilla recently reported mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission. To date, 61 countries/areas have documented ongoing mosquito-borne transmission since 2007 while 10 have reported evidence of person-to-person transmission, probably by sexual contact (see This link will open in a new windowattachment). Based on research to date, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

"We noted one laboratory-acquired case in the United States reported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will continue to maintain close liaison with the WHO as well as overseas, neighbouring and Mainland health authorities to closely monitor the latest Zika 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 were 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 pages below for more disease information and health advice:

• The CHP's Zika page (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/43086.html);
• The Zika page of the DH's Travel Health Service (This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup_zika.html);
• The Outbound Travel Alert page of the Security Bureau (This link will open in a new windowwww.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota);
• Anti-mosquito precautions for women (This link will open in a new windowwww.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html); and
• The WHO Zika virus situation reports (This link will open in a new windowwww.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en).