The Zika virus will be made a notifiable infectious disease from February 5 to enhance surveillance of the mosquito-borne disease.
The decision was made after the Secretary for Food & Health chaired an interdepartmental meeting today on the latest local risk assessment and prevention and control measures against the virus.
Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Leung Ting-hung said international travel meant the virus could be brought to Hong Kong.
He advised travellers returning from affected areas to apply mosquito repellent for two weeks after arrival in Hong Kong to avoid being bitten by local mosquitos and spreading the virus here.
Pregnant women should consider deferring travel to Zika-affected areas, he added.
The Department of Health has stepped up port health measures against the virus, and the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will launch the first phase of an anti-mosquito campaign this month.
The Hospital Authority said anyone who has visited areas affected by virus will be screened and banned from donating blood for at least 28 days.
