In what is the first case of Zika virus detection in the country, China confirmed the contamination of a man who had recently travelled to South America.
This was reported by the official Xinhua news agency.
Citing China's National Health and Family Planning Commission Xinhua said that Zika virus was detected in a 34-year-old man from Ganxian county in the eastern province of Jiangxi, Xinhua said. The virus has caused international alarm after spreading through much of the Americas.
Xinhua added that the Chinese health authorities downplayed the risk of the mosquito-borne virus spreading because of the winter cold.
The man worked in Dongguan, a bustling manufacturing city in the neighbouring southern province of Guangdong and had travelled through Hong Kong on his return to China, the Hong Kong's Department of Health said in a statement.
In response inspections have been stepped up at airport by the Hong Kong's Port Health Office and the statement said that boundary control inspectors were being imparted training.
Since the Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit the virus is present in Hong Kong, there is a risk that Zika could be spread locally if it was introduced to Hong Kong, the statement said. However the statement noted that no cases of the virus in Hong Kong have been reported so far.
Xinhua said that the infected man was recovering with normal body temperature and a fading rash even as he had been quarantined at a hospital in his hometown since February 6, Xinhua said.
Details of the man's travel history from the mainland authorities would be sought from the authorities as he had transited through Hong Kong, said Ko Wing-man, Hong Kong Secretary for Food.
The bureau was not worried about the spread of the illness in Hong Kong as the risk of contracting the virus through human contact was low, Ko said. However close monitoring of the situation is being done, he added.
Mainland health authorities could not be immediately reached for comment.
With Brazil the worst affected country, Zika has spread quickly in South and Central America and the Caribbean.
On February 1, an international health emergency over the virus was declared by the World Health Organization. This is so because there are rising concerns over a possible link with a rise in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an abnormally small head that can result in developmental problems.
Almost no symptoms or very mild symptoms like fever or skin rashes are seenin most people infected by the Zika virus.
Mild symptoms of fever, headache and dizziness were displayed by the infected man in China. The man had travelled to Venezuela. The symptoms were displayed on January 28, Xinhua said. The man had returned home on February 5 via Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
(Source:www.reuters.com)
This was reported by the official Xinhua news agency.
Citing China's National Health and Family Planning Commission Xinhua said that Zika virus was detected in a 34-year-old man from Ganxian county in the eastern province of Jiangxi, Xinhua said. The virus has caused international alarm after spreading through much of the Americas.
Xinhua added that the Chinese health authorities downplayed the risk of the mosquito-borne virus spreading because of the winter cold.
The man worked in Dongguan, a bustling manufacturing city in the neighbouring southern province of Guangdong and had travelled through Hong Kong on his return to China, the Hong Kong's Department of Health said in a statement.
In response inspections have been stepped up at airport by the Hong Kong's Port Health Office and the statement said that boundary control inspectors were being imparted training.
Since the Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit the virus is present in Hong Kong, there is a risk that Zika could be spread locally if it was introduced to Hong Kong, the statement said. However the statement noted that no cases of the virus in Hong Kong have been reported so far.
Xinhua said that the infected man was recovering with normal body temperature and a fading rash even as he had been quarantined at a hospital in his hometown since February 6, Xinhua said.
Details of the man's travel history from the mainland authorities would be sought from the authorities as he had transited through Hong Kong, said Ko Wing-man, Hong Kong Secretary for Food.
The bureau was not worried about the spread of the illness in Hong Kong as the risk of contracting the virus through human contact was low, Ko said. However close monitoring of the situation is being done, he added.
Mainland health authorities could not be immediately reached for comment.
With Brazil the worst affected country, Zika has spread quickly in South and Central America and the Caribbean.
On February 1, an international health emergency over the virus was declared by the World Health Organization. This is so because there are rising concerns over a possible link with a rise in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an abnormally small head that can result in developmental problems.
Almost no symptoms or very mild symptoms like fever or skin rashes are seenin most people infected by the Zika virus.
Mild symptoms of fever, headache and dizziness were displayed by the infected man in China. The man had travelled to Venezuela. The symptoms were displayed on January 28, Xinhua said. The man had returned home on February 5 via Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
(Source:www.reuters.com)
