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The Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Leung Ting-hung, today (February 4) urged members of the public, particularly those travelling to neighbouring and overseas areas during the Lunar New Year, to take due consideration of health risks before travel and to adopt necessary precautions in view of increasing activity of various infectious diseases.
"Take anti-mosquito measures against mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever (DF) and Zika Virus Infection during travel. Avoid poultry contact and do not visit poultry markets and farms to guard against avian influenza. Avoid camel contact and do not visit farms, barns or markets with camels in the Middle East to prevent from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. In Hong Kong, get vaccinated early and wash hands frequently during the festive season and winter influenza season. Eat thoroughly cooked and healthy food to avoid food poisoning. Strict hand, personal, food and environmental hygiene remain keys to safeguarding against infectious diseases," Dr Leung said.
Seasonal influenza
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The percentage of positive tests for seasonal influenza viruses increased from 7.32 per cent to 9.19 per cent in the last two weeks while about 70 per cent of detections were A(H1N1)pdm09. The number of influenza-like illness outbreaks in institutions/schools increased from 13 (affecting 120 persons) last week to 33 (206 persons) as of February 3. Nearly all occurred in primary schools and kindergartens or child care centres. The enhanced surveillance with public and private hospitals since January 29 had recorded 12 adult cases (including one death) of influenza-associated admission to intensive care unit or death.
As of January 31, about 369 000 and 177 000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) and the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, i.e. about 546 000 in total, an increase of 19 per cent compared to the same period last year. About 30 000 are available under the GVP. The public should get vaccinated early.
Avian influenza
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Since 2013 to date, 683 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported in the Mainland. From October 2015, 26 H7N9 cases (13 in Zhejiang, six in Guangdong, two each in Hunan, Jiangsu and Shanghai, and one in Jiangxi), five H5N6 cases (four in Guangdong and one imported to Jiangxi from Guangdong) and one H5N1 case (in Sichuan) have been reported. In addition, Macau reported on February 3 that an environmental sample collected from a poultry stall in a wet market tested positive for H7 virus and its chickens were supplied by a farm in Gaoming, Guangdong.
H5 and H7N9 viruses can cause severe infections in humans. Human H5N6 and H7N9 cases were reported in the Mainland this winter. Locally, birds positive for H5N6 were also detected. The public, especially poultry traders and travellers, should be highly alert.
Dengue fever
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Ten cases of DF have been confirmed this year and all were imported, including one recorded from January 29 as of February 3, in which patients had been in Indonesia during the incubation period.
Dengue remains endemic in neighbouring and overseas areas. In Guangdong, local cases have been recorded in 12 cities in 2015. In Asia, in 2016, 5 129 DF cases have been recorded in Thailand, 2 693 in Singapore (since January 3), 354 in Taiwan and 20 in Japan. In the Americas, since 2015, 1 649 008 were filed in Brazil and 219 593 in Mexico.
Zika Virus Infection
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Globally, Zika Virus Infection has been emerging and outbreaks have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Ongoing transmission of Zika has expanded rapidly in the Americas since 2015.
Locally, no human cases have been reported to the CHP to date. Yet, as long as there is international travel, there is always risk of introduction of Zika virus to Hong Kong. As asymptomatic infection is very common and the potential vector, Aedes albopictus, is present locally, there is also risk of local spread in case Zika is introduced to Hong Kong.
To prevent Zika Virus Infection, in addition to general anti-mosquito measures, the DH again urged that:
* 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;
* 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
* 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 Virus Infection was reported.
The public may visit the DH's pages below for more disease information and health advice:
* The influenza page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/14843.html);
* The avian influenza page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24244.html);
* The dengue fever page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/38847.html);
* The Zika Virus Infection page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/43086.html);
* The Travel Health News (www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/outbreaknews/outbreaknews.html); and
* Anti-mosquito precautions for women (www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html).
Ends/Thursday, February 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:09
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