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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 15) closely monitoring the latest Zika virus update of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the latest scientific evidence on the disease. Travel health advice has been revised accordingly.
According to the WHO, Belize and Saint Lucia recently reported mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission. To date, 64 countries/areas have documented Zika virus transmission since 2007 and are detailed in the attachment. Based on a growing body of research, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and other central nervous system foetal malformations.
Apart from GBS, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (a disease of the central nervous system) was recently found to be one of the neurologic manifestations possibly resulted from Zika virus.
"We noted the latest report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States which identified a case of sexual transmission of Zika virus between a man with recent travel to an area of active Zika virus transmission and his non-travelling male partner. We will continue to maintain close liaison with the WHO as well as overseas, neighbouring and Mainland health authorities to closely monitor the latest scientific evidence, and revise the local response if necessary," a spokesman for the CHP said.
The CHP's Scientific Committee on Vector-borne Diseases will meet later on the latest epidemiology of Zika virus and corresponding prevention and control measures in the light of emerging scientific findings.
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, e.g. having fever, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible, and provide travel details to a doctor;
* Travellers should consider not having sex during travel to affected areas, or else condoms should be used;
* Male travellers returning from affected areas:
(i) Diagnosed with Zika or with compatible symptoms should not have sex for at least six months upon onset, or else the use of condoms should be considered;
(ii) Without compatible symptoms should not have sex for at least two months upon return, or else the use of condoms should be considered;
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 at least two months after returning from affected areas;
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 affected areas, 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);
* 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/situation-report/en).
Ends/Friday, April 15, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:51
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