Travel Health Service Year 2014

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News Digest (16 September 2014 - 22 September 2014)

Take precautions against dengue fever when travelling abroad

Dengue fever is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. This includes various popular tourist destinations for Hong Kong people including the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Travellers planning to travel in these areas should take precautions against the disease.

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2014 *

 

Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2014

Source of information and date of report

Australia

1,147

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Brazil

511,080

World Health Organization, 12 September 2014

Cambodia

1,520

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Guangdong

Taiwan

2,175

2,493

Health authority of Guangdong, 11September 2014
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 22 September 2014

India

5,218

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 July 2014

Japan

197

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 10 September 2014

Lao PDR

1,147

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Malaysia

53,246

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Mexico

54,807

World Health Organization, 12 September 2014

New Caledonia

105

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Philippines

35,264

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Singapore

14,964

Singapore National Environment Agency, 18 September 2014

Sri Lanka

30,325

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 19 September 2014

Thailand

23,941

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand,17 September 2014

Vietnam

9,331

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.

Travellers should stay vigilant against dengue fever and adopt the following personal preventive measures against mosquito bite:

* Always wear loose, light-coloured long-sleeved tops and trousers;
* Stay in air-conditioned residence or places with mosquito screens;
* If mosquito screen or air-conditioning is absent, aerosol insecticide and bed nets are advised;
* Use insect repellents containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing;
* Use insect repellents containing DEET apart from applying sunscreen while staying in beaches;
* Re-apply insect repellents according to instructions during the trip;
* Carry a portable bed nets and apply permethrin on it as well as to clothes if travelling to rural areas where dengue fever is prevalent.

Travellers returning from areas where dengue fever is prevalent should seek medical advice as soon as possible if they feel unwell and provide travel details to their doctors.

 

South Africa: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

A man died of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in South Africa. The virus is transmitted mainly by Hyalomma ticks. These ticks are widely distributed in South Africa, but tend to be most numerous in the drier, north-western parts of the country in the Karoo, western Free State, Northern Cape and North-West Province, generally in the rural areas. 

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 September 2014)

 

USA: Enterovirus Infection [Update]

From mid-August to 19 September 2014, a total of 160 people from 22 states of the the United States of America were confirmed to have respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. The 22 states are Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. 

(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 19 September 2014)

 

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 15 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 71 including 40 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 18 September 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 14 September 2014, Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 942 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 601 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 18 September 2014)

 

 Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 14 September 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 1673 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 562 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 18 September 2014)

 

 Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 14 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 2710 including 1459 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 18 September 2014)

 

Nigeria: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 14 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Nigeria is 21 including 8 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 18 September 2014)

 

Senegal: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 14 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Senegal is 1.

(Source: World Health Organization 18September 2014)

 

Mainland:  Dengue Fever


The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring the latest situation of dengue fever in Guangdong, Mainland.

According to information from the health authority of Guangdong, as of September 11 a total of 2,175 cases of dengue fever had been recorded in Guangdong this year, as compared to 753 and 131 in the first nine months of 2013 and 2012 respectively.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 16 September 2014)

 

Taiwan: Dengue Fever

As of 16 September 2014, Taiwan reported 20 local case of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, in which 16 have been discharged, 4 died.

(Source: Centers for Disease Control, R.O.C. (Taiwan) 16 September 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 September 2014, Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 936 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 595 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 September 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 September 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 1620 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 562 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 September 2014)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 2407 including 1296 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 September 2014)

 

Nigeria: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Nigeria is 21 including 8 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 September 2014)

 

Senegal: Ebola virus disease

As of 13 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Senegal is 1.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 September 2014)

 

Romania: West Nile Virus Infection

Romania health authorities reported 3 indigenous human cases of West Nile Virus infection.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 September 2014)

 

Canada: Enterovirus Infection

Cases of EV-D68 related respiratory infections were reported in Alberta, Canada.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 September 2014)

 

USA: Enterovirus Infection [Update]

From mid-August to September 15, 2014, a total of 104 people in 10 states of USA (Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, and New York) have been confirmed to have respiratory illness caused by EV-D68.

(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 15 September 2014)

 

Laos: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of low pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza virus infection was reported in Luangprabang, Laos. Of 200 birds, 2 were found dead and 198 were destroyed.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 15 September 2014)