Current Travel Health News

As the dengue activity in southern Taiwan remains high, public are reminded to take anti-mosquito measures when travelling to the area and other Southeast Asian countries, in order to prevent dengue fever.

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 01/01/2015 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2015	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,502	World Health Organization, 1 December 2015
Brazil	1,534,932	World Health Organization, 8 December 2015
Cambodia	12,218	World Health Organization, 1 December 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	1,312 41,457^	Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 9 October 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 11 December 2015
India	90,040	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 November 2015
Japan	274	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 8 December 2015
Lao PDR	1,730	World Health Organization, 1 December 2015
Malaysia	107,079	World Health Organization, 1 December 2015
Mexico	201,578	World Health Organization, 8 December 2015
Philippines	142,227	World Health Organization, 1 December 2015
Singapore	10,005	Singapore National Environment Agency, 10 December 2015
Sri Lanka	26,662	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 10 December 2015
Thailand	129,040	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 10 December 2015
Vietnam	58,633	World Health Organization, 1 December 2015

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
^ Cumulative local cases since this summer

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.

As of 29 November 2015, cholera outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo have infected 19,705 people.

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 among ducks were reported in Pingtung, Taiwan.

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1, H5N2 and H5N9 among poultries were reported in France.

2 cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever were reported in Chakwal, Pakistan. The patients were brother and sister. They have cattle at home.

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,804 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,536 deaths.

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 9, including 3 deaths.

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring three additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including two deaths, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit.

According to the WHO, the patients involved two men and a woman aged 47, 70 and 50 respectively, of whom a male and the female patient passed away while the remaining one is in critical condition. They experienced onset of symptoms between October 28 and November 4 and all have underlying illnesses. One patient had frequent camel contact and consumption of raw camel milk, and one is a contact of a previously confirmed patient. In addition, three previously confirmed patients died.

Hawaii health authority said that the number of locally acquired dengue fever cases on the big island of Hawaii has risen to a total of 139.

On 2 December 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Panama notified WHO of the first 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease.