17th Zika virus infection found in a traveler to Southeast Asia

◇ 17th Zika virus infection found in a traveler (female, born in 1996) to the Philippines (Boracay) after return to Korea
◇ KCDC urged pregnant women to postpone trips to Zika virus affected countries, such as those in Southeast Asia with the Lunar New Year's holiday approaching
◇ Visitors to Zika virus affected countries should postpone pregnancy for 6 months and use condom


□ The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and Incheon Metropolitan City announced that, as a result of a Zika virus test (PCR: Polymerase chain reaction, by the Incheon Institute of Health and Environment and the National Research Institute of Health) on S (female, born in 1996) who had visited the Philippines on December 18, 2016 (Sun.) and returned to Korea on December 22 (Thu.), a Zika virus infection was confirmatively diagnosed (urine test result positive) at around 1:00 p.m. on January 5, 2017 (Thu.).
□ The infectee is assumed to have been bitten by mosquitoes during her stay in the Philippines. Experiencing the symptoms of muscle pain (Dec. 27), rash (Dec. 28) and conjunctivitis (Dec. 28) after arrival in Korea, she visited Sun Skin Clinic and Dr. Cha's Yonsei Skin Clinic and was suspected of, and thus reported for a possible Zika virus infection.
○ According to a joint epidemiological survey conducted by the KCDC and the Incheon Metropolitan Government*, the infectee was in good condition at the time of diagnosis and an in-depth epidemiological survey began.
* Related people (infectee and two others)
□ According to the KCDC's examination of the countries visited by 17 patients* confirmatively diagnosed with the Zika virus infection thus far, 13 visited Southeast Asian countries (seven to the Philippines, four to Vietnam and two to Thailand) and the other four visited Central and South American countries (Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Puerto Rico). In addition, the patients are divided into 13 male and 4 female patients and there were no pregnant women.
○ Although the activities of Aedes Stegomyia albopictus, a Zika virus infection carrier, are not found in Korea at the moment, the occurrence of a Zika virus infection in people who have traveled to Southeast Asia is continuing.
○ Therefore, the KCDC urged those planning overseas trips during the Lunar New Year's holiday to check for the Zika virus affected countries in advance through the KCDC website (http://www.kdca.go.kr) and mobile website (http://m.kdca.go.kr).
○ In addition, the KCDC advised travelers to take precautions to avoid mosquitoe bites in overseas countries and postpone pregnancy and use condoms or stay continent for six months after a trip according to the recently revised guidelines.
○ The KCDC also recommended pregnant women to postpone trips to the affected areas after childbirth and those who have visited the affected areas or had sexual contact with travelers to the areas to visit their antepartum consulting physicians and receive an examination as the National Health Insurance provides benefits for a Zika virus examination and the expenses paid by patients themselves can also be covered using the National Happiness Card.
* Should check if a Zika virus examination is available before visiting the clinic