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The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring overseas cases of poliomyelitis reported to the World Health Organization.
"Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the international spread of wild poliovirus in 2014 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for which a coordinated international response is essential," a DH spokesman said.
According to the WHO, at end-2013, 60 per cent of polio cases were the result of international spread of wild poliovirus, and there was increasing evidence that adult travellers contributed to this spread. During the 2014 low transmission season (i.e. January to April), there has already been international spread of wild poliovirus from three of the 10 States that are currently infected: in central Asia (from Pakistan to Afghanistan), in the Middle East (Syrian Arab Republic to Iraq) and in Central Africa (Cameroon to Equatorial Guinea).
The WHO advised that Pakistan, Cameroon, and the Syrian Arab Republic are "States Currently Exporting Wild Poliovirus", which posed the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014.
The WHO also advised that Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Somalia and Nigeria are "States Infected with Wild Poliovirus but not Currently Exporting" given the international spread from these states historically, which posed an ongoing risk for new wild poliovirus exportations in 2014.
In Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH will remain vigilant and work closely with the WHO and overseas and neighbouring health authorities to monitor the latest developments. The spokesman said that Hong Kong, as part of the WHO Western Pacific Region, was certified polio-free in October 2000. The last local case of poliomyelitis due to wild poliovirus was reported in 1983 and poliomyelitis has been made statutorily notifiable in Hong Kong since 1948. Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance has also been in place in accordance to the WHO's guideline since 1997.
Furthermore, Hong Kong has in place a childhood immunisation programme covering vaccination against poliomyelitis. Parents should ensure their children have received up-to-date immunisation.
The spokesman reminded travellers going to polio-infected areas should be fully immunised against poliomyelitis before their trip. Travellers should always observe good personal and food hygiene when travelling abroad.
Members of the public may contact their attending doctors for polio vaccination. They can also visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/37.html) for information of polio infection and vaccination or the Travel Health Service's website (www.travelhealth.gov.hk/eindex.html) for the latest travel health advice.
Ends/Thursday, May 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:57
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