APAC countries issue ZIKA advice

APAC countries issue ZIKA advice
By Anne Majumdar


WHAT APAC COUNTRIES ARE ADVISING ABOUT ZIKA

AUSTRALIA – The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is advising pregnant women to avoid travel in areas where Zika is active. The federal government is also asking Australian doctors to look out for signs of Zika infection in travellers returning from affected areas. A spokeswoman said Australian laboratories could diagnose the virus if required.

SOUTH KOREA – South Korean officials have advised pregnant women against travelling to Central and South America and required doctors to immediately report suspected cases. The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Friday also included the Zika virus among the group of infectious diseases recognised and monitored as potential health threats. Doctors can now face fines of up to 2 million won ($A2,335) for failing to report patients infected by the mosquito-borne disease or showing symptoms of infection.

MALAYSIA – Health authorities have asked travellers from South and Central America who display symptoms such as fever and rashes to immediately report to health centres. Deputy Health Director Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said the move was imperative as it was not practical to conduct public health screenings at national gateways.

JAPAN – Japan’s Foreign Ministry has issued a safety advisory urging women to try to avoid travelling to Brazil and other affected countries during pregnancy, and advised all travellers to the area to use caution. It suggested wearing long sleeves and pants, using mosquito sprays and avoid leaving out buckets, empty gardening pots and other containers that can catch water, and report to medical institutions in case of developing suspected symptoms.

CAMBODIA – Cambodia’s only Zika case recovered in 2010 after treatment. The Health Ministry is advising caution and says it’s following the situation in countries with the Zika virus closely. It’s also urging people to destroy mosquito-breeding grounds.

INDIA – Health Minister Shri JP Naddahas has stressed the control of the spread of Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue and the Zika virus and breed in clean water. India is also stepping up surveillance and has set up a technical group to monitor the situation.

HONG KONG – Health officials are advising pregnant women and those planning pregnancy to adopt necessary anti-mosquito precautions, and consider deferring trips to areas with Zika virus transmissions. Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man also said that because only up to one quarter of the infected persons might develop relatively mild illness, “the attention was therefore not too big”.

VIETNAM – The Vietnamese health authority has warned people coming from countries with the Zika virus to monitor their health for 14 days and if they develop fever to report to medical facilities. The health authority also warned people to empty water containers and use mosquito nets to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

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