Current Travel Health News

Dengue fever is an endemic disease in most Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Travellers visiting these places are advised to protect themselves against mosquitoes all year round.

The recent dengue fever activity in Asia has been more severe. Various popular tourist attractions among Hong Kong people including Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia, observed recent persistent increase in the number of dengue fever cases. Other neighbouring Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan and India, also recorded rising dengue fever activities.

Outbreaks of dengue fever were observed in Guangdong province in China, Brazil, Costa Rica, Columbia, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic in the recent year.. It was expected that dengue fever activities will continue to rise in coming months in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

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

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2013 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2013	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,762	World Health Organization,15 January 2014
Brazil	1,451,432	World Health Organization, 13 January 2014
Cambodia	16,722	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
China   Guangdong province	2,900	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 January 2014
India	70, 767	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 December 2013
Lao PDR	44,171	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Malaysia	43,346	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Mexico	231,498	World Health Organization, 13 January 2014
New Caledonia	10,551	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Philippines	166,107	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Taiwan	874	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 27 January 2014
Vietnam	60,588	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014

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
Singapore	1,608	Singapore National Environment Agency, 24 January 2014
Sri Lanka	2,130	SingaporeMinistry of Health, Sri Lanka, 24 January 2014
Thailand	397	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 21 January 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 long-sleeved clothing 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;
*	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.

According to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities, as of yesterday (January 26), three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) were confirmed in Zhejiang (two cases) and Jiangsu (one case). The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring the situation. The cases in Zhejiang involved two men aged 40 and 65, both of whom are currently hospitalised for treatment. The case in Jiangsu involved a man aged 76 who is still under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 240 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (100 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (33 cases), Guangdong (30 cases), Fujian (13 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

An outbreak of Avian Influenza is showing signs of spreading along the west coast with 6 farms in South Jeolla and Gyeonggi provinces and South Chungcheong of South Korea reporting suspected cases

 According to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities as at yesterday (January 25), six additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) were confirmed in Guangdong (one case), Fujian (one case), Zhejiang (three cases) and Jiangsu (one case). The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring the situation. The case in Guangdong involves an 82-year-old man who lives in Shenzhen. He is currently under treatment in a local hospital. The case in Fujian involves a 46-year-old woman who is still hospitalised for treatment. The three cases in Zhejiang involve a man aged 49, and two women aged 48 and 60. All of them are currently hospitalised for treatment.  The case in Jiangsu involves a 57-year-old man who is still hospitalised for treatment.

As of January 25, a total of 237 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed on the Mainland, including Zhejiang (98 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (32 cases), Guangdong (30 cases), Fujian (13 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

Additionally, the CHP received notification of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H10N8) in Jiangxi from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The patient is a 55-year-old woman who visited a poultry market on January 4. She became ill on January 8 and is currently hospitalised for treatment.

 The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) last night (January 24) received notification of ten additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Huizhou (one case) and Meizhou (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province and in Zhejiang (seven cases) and Beijing (one case) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The case in Huizhou involves a 58-year-old woman while the case in Meizhou involves a 52-year-old man. They are currently hospitalised for treatment.  The cases in Zhejiang involve two men aged 33 and 73 and five women aged 23, 44, 62, 76 and 82. They are currently hospitalised for treatment. The case in Beijing involves a 58-year-old man. He is currently hospitalised for treatment. 

 As of January 24, a total of 231 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed on the Mainland, including Zhejiang (95 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (31 cases), Guangdong (29 cases), Fujian (12 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

Mainland health authorities have reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) that as at yesterday (January 23), seven additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) had been confirmed in Shenzhen (one case), Zhejiang (five cases) and Shanghai (one case). The case in Shenzhen involves a woman aged 34. She is currently hospitalised for treatment. The cases in Zhejiang involve two men aged 59 and 71 and three women aged 63, 66 and 71. They are currently hospitalised for treatment. The case in Shanghai involves a woman aged 61 who is currently hospitalised for treatment.

 As of January 23, a total of 221 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed on the Mainland, including Zhejiang (88 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (31 cases), Guangdong (27 cases), Fujian (12 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (two cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification of three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhejiang from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The cases involve two men aged 53 and 71 and a woman aged 63. They are currently hospitalised for treatment. As of January 22, a total of 214 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (83 cases), Shanghai (40 cases), Jiangsu (31 cases), Guangdong (26 cases), Fujian (12 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (two cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

Cases of Zika fever infection were reported in the islands of French Polynesia, including Tahiti. According to the latest data from the local health authority, there were 361 laboratory confirmed cases and 7156 suspected cases reported throughout the 15 islands as of 13 January.

The government of New Caledonia reported the occurrence of the first case of Zika virus infection affecting a 76-year-old man in Dumbea.

In South Korea, an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 Avian Influenza affecting 21 180 birds was reported in North Jeolla Province.

 The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) last night (January 21) received notification of seven additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Shenzhen (three cases) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province and in Zhejiang (three cases) and Jiangsu (one case) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

As of January 21, a total of 211 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (80 cases), Shanghai (40 cases), Jiangsu (31 cases), Guangdong (26 cases), Fujian (12 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (two cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

The City of Olongapo in Luzon, Philippines has declared a rising number of measles cases since the start of 2014. 62 probable measles cases were reported from 1 to 14 January 2014 this year, higher than the 23 cases reported for the same period in 2013.

As of December 31, 2013, 38,577 cases of rubella had been reported in Poland since the beginning of 2013.

As of December 31, 2013, 14,357 rubella cases had been reported in Japan since the beginning of 2013.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification today (January 20) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission of nine additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhejiang (six cases), Shanghai (two cases) and Fujian (one case). The cases in Zhejiang involve a woman aged 71 and five men aged 53, 54, 55, 61 and 63. They are all currently hospitalised for treatment. The cases in Shanghai involve two men aged 31 and 77. Both patients passed away on January 18. The case in Fujian involves a 55-year-old man. He is still hospitalised for treatment.

  As of 9pm today, a total of 204 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (77 cases), Shanghai (40 cases), Jiangsu (30 cases), Guangdong (23 cases), Fujian (12 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (two cases), Hunan (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).