Yuen Long man confirmed as 2nd imported case of Zika in Hong Kong

An Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of obtaining a “blood meal”. Photo (for illustration): James Gathany via Wikimedia Commons
An Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of obtaining a “blood meal”. Photo (for illustration): James Gathany via Wikimedia Commons

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) yesterday confirmed that a 56-year-old Yuen Long resident was the city’s second imported case of Zika after travelling alone to the US and the Carribean.

The man, who has underlying illnesses, returned to Hong Kong on Nov. 10 and went to an outpatient medical clinic two days later, after experiencing a fever, rash and diarrhoea. 

He was referred to the North District Hospital on the same day and gave blood and urine samples which both tested positive for Zika at the CHP’s lab yesterday afternoon.

The patient is being kept in isolation and is in stable condition, according to the CHP. Prior to his hospitalisation, he mostly stayed in his residence in Yan Shau Wai in San Tin, Yuen Long, and made one trip to San Fung Avenue in Sheung Shui on Saturday.

Food and Environment Hygiene Department personnel enforced mosquito control measures in the 56-year-old’s village this morning, spraying the area extensively with mosquito repellent and clearing away some plants and bushes.

The patient departed Hong Kong for New York on Oct. 13, then travelled to Antigua and Barbuda, Sint Maarten, and Anguilla before taking a flight home from New York via Chicago. All three Carribean destinations visited by the patient have been reporting Zika outbreaks since 2015.

The CHP recommends civilians take general measures to prevent mosquito bites and mozzie-borne transmissions, and taking extra precautions when travelling to areas affected by Zika.

These include:

  • Consulting a doctor six weeks before said trip (especially if you have immune disorders or severe chronic illnesses)
  • Using condoms while having sex on trips to areas affected by Zika
  • Using condoms for six months after arriving home from trips to Zika-affected areas
  • Applying insect repellent for at least 21 days after returning home from Zika-affected areas

Pregnant women should not travel to countries and territories affected by Zika, and should either abstain from sex or use condoms if their partner has travelled to said areas.

Related articles:

Hong Kong reports first imported case of Zika virus

Hong Kong’s first Zika case tests negative

 


Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co


 



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on