Press Releases

SFH on Zika virus and seasonal influenza

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after officiating at the launch ceremony of the Joyful@HK Campaign of the Department of Health today (January 29):

Reporter: What is the risk of an outbreak of Zika disease in Hong Kong? What will Hong Kong be doing against it?

Secretary for Food and Health: On Zika virus infection, previously because of the fact that only up to one quarter of the infected persons might develop relatively mild illness, the attention was therefore not too big. Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced precaution against this disease because of clusters of women infected with Zika virus have delivered infants with microcephaly. We will shortly have a meeting with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) to determine whether Zika virus infection should be listed as a notifiable infectious disease. As to the risk of transmission in Hong Kong, Zika virus was believed to be transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. But because other species of mosquito present in Hong Kong are also considered as possible vectors of this disease, we have to heighten our awareness and precaution against this disease.

Reporter: There is a school in Cheung Sha Wan which has to be closed down until mid-February because many students of the school were infected of flu. What kind of assistance ...?

Secretary for Food and Health: Regarding seasonal influenza, the surveillance data has showed that the seasonal influenza activity left the baseline level. Recently, the CHP has confirmed that we are entering the winter influenza season. Therefore, I would again appeal to those citizens who have not yet vaccinated against seasonal influenza to receive vaccination.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, January 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:32

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