Guangdong Zika Cluster ex-Venezuela

[niman]

GUANGZHOU, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's southern province of Guangdong reported two new Zika infections on Saturday, according to local health authorities. The patients are two Chinese siblings who returned from Venezuela. One of them, a six-year-old boy, was found having a fever when he arrived at Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport on Feb. 25, according to the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission. Meanwhile, the boy's eight-year-old sister were found to have developed a rash. The two were confirmed to have contracted the Zika virus on Saturday, and are receiving treatment in hospital. With eight confirmed imported Zika virus cases and the weather beginning to warm up across the country, China is on high alert. The National Health and Family Planning Commission has urged the public to stay vigilant as the spread of the illness cannot be ruled out in some regions where the mosquito population will increase as the weather warms. Enditem http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-02/27/c_135137066.htm

[niman]

28 February 2016

CHP notified of two additional imported cases of Zika Virus Infection in Mainland

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification last night (February 27) of two additional imported cases of Zika Virus Infection in the Mainland from the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and again urged the public, particularly pregnant women, those planning pregnancy and immunocompromised patients, to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures during travel.        According to the health authorities in the Mainland, the two cases involved a girl aged eight and her brother aged six. The patients live in Venezuela. They departed Venezuela for Guangdong and the boy developed fever during the journey. Upon their arrival at Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou on February 25, his condition was discovered by the local Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau and the sibling were then hospitalised for isolation and management. The girl was also found to have skin rash.  The cases were laboratory confirmed by the Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province on February 27. At present, they were in stable condition and still hospitalised for isolation and management. The patients did not pass through Hong Kong.        "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 for the 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 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.      The public should pay special attention to the countries and areas with reported autochthonous Zika virus transmission or locally acquired infection and those with indication of viral circulation earlier announced by the World Health Organization (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 (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); and * Anti-mosquito precautions for women (www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html). Ends/Sunday, February 28, 2016 http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/116/43604.html