China has confirmed its first case of the Zika virus in a man who had recently travelled to South America.
A statement issued by the Hong Kong Department of Health said that the man (34) had travelled through the city on his return home from Venezuela.
In response, Hong Kong’s port health office has now stepped up inspections at the airport and has reinforced training for boundary control inspectors.
There is a risk that Zika could be spread locally if it was introduced to Hong Kong, the statement said, because Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, live there.
However no cases of the virus in Hong Kong have been reported so far.
Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man said that the bureau was seeking details of the man’s travel history from the mainland authorities because he had travelled through the city on his way home.
Mr Wing-man said that the risk of contracting the virus through human contact was low, so the bureau was not worried about the spread of the illness in the city. He said that authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
The infected man has been quarantined at a hospital in his hometown of Ganxian county since February 6th.
The official Xinhua news agency has reported that he is recovering and has a normal body temperature and a fading rash.
Zika has spread quickly in South and Central America and the Caribbean, with Brazil the worst affected country.
The World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on February 1st over the virus, citing concern over a possible link with a rise in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect characterised by an abnormally small head that can result in developmental problems.
Most infected people have no symptoms, or mild ones including fever and skin rashes.
Reuters