Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (4 March 2014 - 10 March 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. The American, South-east Asia and the Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected. Various popular tourist attractions among Hong Kong people including Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia observe high activities of dengue fever.
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 |
Cambodia |
16,722 |
World Health Organization, 26 February 2014 |
China
Guangdong province |
2,895
|
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 14 February 2014 |
Taiwan |
903 |
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 10 March 2014 |
Vietnam |
66,140 |
World Health Organization, 26 February 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 |
Australia |
242 |
World Health Organization, 26 February 2014 |
Brazil |
18,580 |
World Health Organization, 5 March 2014 |
India |
1,203 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 February 2014 |
Lao PDR |
118 |
World Health Organization, 26 February 2014 |
Malaysia |
13,915 |
World Health Organization, 26 February 2014 |
Mexico |
2,364 |
World Health Organization, 5 March 2014 |
New Caledonia |
56 |
World Health Organization, 26 February 2014 |
Philippines |
3,549 |
World Health Organization, 26 February 2014 |
Singapore |
3,075 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 7 March 2014 |
Sri Lanka |
5,281 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 6 March 2014 |
Thailand |
2,542 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 6 March 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.
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (March 8) received notification of three additional human cases of
avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Meizhou and Chaozhou from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Fujian from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. As of yesterday, a total of 379 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (87 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (21 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 9 March 2014)
Easter Island: Zika Virus Infection
One confirmed and 40 suspected cases of Zika virus infection have been reported in Easter Island.
[Editor’s Note: Zika virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes causing milder symptoms. It is not spread directly from person-to-person. Like dengue fever infection, the symptoms include fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis and pain in small joints of the hands and feet.]
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 March 2014)
Philippines: Measles
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice on 4 March 2014 for travelers to the
Philippines in light of the
measles outbreak. Most of the cases are from the Metropolitan Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 March 2014)
Cambodia: Avian Influenza, human
According to the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of
Cambodia, one new fatal human case of H5N1
avian influenza has been confirmed. This was the 6th case this year and the case was a 3-year-old boy from Phnom Penh City.
(Source: ProMED-mail 8 March 2014)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (March 7) received notification of an additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangzhou from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. As of yesterday, a total of 376 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (85 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 8 March 2014)
Zimbabwe: Rabies
A child died from
rabies infection after being attacked by a rabid dog in the Makoni District, Manicaland Province of
Zimbabwe.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 March 2014)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification yesterday (March 6) of an additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) in Foshan from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. As of yesterday, a total of 375 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (84 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 7 March 2014)
Panama: Hantavirus infection
Two new cases of
Hantavirus infections have been reported in the Guarare and Los Santos areas of Los Santos Province in
Panama.
(Source: ProMED-mail 6 March 2014)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification yesterday (March 5) of a total of three additional human cases of
avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province; and in Jiangsu and Shandong from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. As of yesterday, a total of 374 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (83 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 6 March 2014)
Namibia: Cholera
Since November 2013, Namibia reported 554 cases of cholera and 18 people have died from the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 March 2014)
Nigeria: Cholera
There were
cholera outbreaks in Bauchi State and Benue State of
Nigeria.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 March 2014)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (March 3) received notification of an additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhuhai from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. As of yesterday, a total of 371 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (82 cases), Jiangsu (42 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 4 March 2014)
Malaysia: Malaria
According to the Health officials in
Malaysia, increase in
malaria cases in human caused by Plasmodium knowlesi is noted in recent years.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 March 2014)
Philippines: Rabies
Three fatal cases of
rabies infection were recorded in
Philippines in the first two months of this year
.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 March 2014)
Australia: Salmonella infection
More than 200 people contracted Salmonella infection after eating the eggs at restaurants in Torquay and St Kilda,
Australia. The outbreak was linked to an egg farm.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 March 2014)
Netherlands: Avian Influenza, poultry
An outbreak of H5N1
avian influenza was identified on a poultry farm in Flevoland,
Netherlands since 26 February 2014.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 March 2014)
Cambodia: Avian Influenza, poultry
Two outbreaks of H5N1
avian influenza were reported in Kampong Speu and Kandal,
Cambodia. Of 700 birds, 410 were found dead and the rest were destroyed.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 26 February 2014)
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