Zika Confirmed Israel ex-Vietnam Hong Kong

[niman]

According to the report from the Regional Office for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization (WHO), the patient travelled to Vietnam from December 9 to 21, 2015, and then to Hong Kong from December 21 to 23. He subsequently returned to Israel and developed fever and headache on December 25. The case was laboratory-confirmed on February 21, 2016.

 

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201603/11/P201603110556.htm

 

Edited March 20, 2016 by niman

[niman]

Case of Zika Virus Infection in Israel
**************************************

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 11) reported the local response to a case of Zika Virus Infection in Israel, and again urged the public to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures during travel. Pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to affected areas.

     According to the report from the Regional Office for the Western Pacific of the World Health Organization (WHO), the patient travelled to Vietnam from December 9 to 21, 2015, and then to Hong Kong from December 21 to 23. He subsequently returned to Israel and developed fever and headache on December 25. The case was laboratory-confirmed on February 21, 2016.

     "Upon receipt today, we swiftly followed up with the Ministry of Health of Israel for more case information, including details of local movements of the patient in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The DH's Port Health Office (PHO) will follow up as necessary.

     In addition, the PHO has stepped up inspection at the airport to maintain strict environmental hygiene with effective mosquito control. Port Health Inspectors have reinforced training for contractors at boundary control points, including the airport, harbour ports and ground crossings, on port hygiene and pest control for effective vector prevention.

     "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 DH said.

     The DH has been closely working 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 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 if Zika is introduced to Hong Kong.

     The public should pay special attention to the countries/areas with reported/indication of autochthonous Zika virus transmission earlier announced by the 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).

Ends/Friday, March 11, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:59

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[niman]

LOCUS       KU926324                 231 bp    RNA     linear   VRL 17-MAR-2016
DEFINITION  Zika virus isolate Zika 352 Israel ex Vietnam 2016 polyprotein
            gene, partial cds.
ACCESSION   KU926324
VERSION     KU926324.1  GI:1006592945
KEYWORDS    .
SOURCE      Zika virus
  ORGANISM  Zika virus
            Viruses; ssRNA viruses; ssRNA positive-strand viruses, no DNA
            stage; Flaviviridae; Flavivirus.
REFERENCE   1  (bases 1 to 231)
  AUTHORS   Lustig,Y., Meltzer,E., Leshem,E., Koren,R., Levy,R., Hindiyeh,M.,
            Mendelson,E. and Schwartz,E.
  TITLE     Zika virus in Israeli travelers: Asia, Central and South America
  JOURNAL   Unpublished
REFERENCE   2  (bases 1 to 231)
  AUTHORS   Lustig,Y., Meltzer,E., Leshem,E., Koren,R., Levy,R., Hindiyeh,M.,
            Mendelson,E. and Schwartz,E.
  TITLE     Direct Submission
  JOURNAL   Submitted (16-MAR-2016) Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of
            Health, Sheba Way, Ramat-Gan 5262100, Israel
COMMENT     ##Assembly-Data-START##
            Sequencing Technology :: Sanger dideoxy sequencing
            ##Assembly-Data-END##
FEATURES             Location/Qualifiers
     source          1..231
                     /organism="Zika virus"
                     /mol_type="genomic RNA"
                     /isolate="Zika 352 Israel ex Vietnam 2016"
                     /isolation_source="blood"
                     /host="Homo sapiens"
                     /db_xref="taxon:64320"
                     /country="Israel"
                     /collection_date="22-Feb-2016"