Travel Health Service Year 2015

Current Travel Health News

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 01/01/2015 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2015	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,178	World Health Organization, 11 August 2015
Brazil	1,319,957	World Health Organization, 12 August 2015
Cambodia	4,674	World Health Organization, 11 August 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	30 1,110	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 14 August 2015
India	9,874	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 July 2015
Japan	137	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 11 August 2015
Lao PDR	743	World Health Organization, 11 August 2015
Malaysia	70,680	World Health Organization, 11 August 2015
Mexico	61,520	World Health Organization, 12 August 2015
Philippines	40,593	World Health Organization, 11 August 2015
Singapore	5,794	Singapore National Environment Agency, 13 August 2015
Sri Lanka	18,802	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 13 August 2015
Thailand	48,358	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 11 August 2015
Vietnam	21,154	World Health Organization, 11 August 2015

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.

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,791 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,524 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 August 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 August 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,485 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,952 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 August 2015)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring 17 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including three 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 comprise 10 men and seven women aged 29 to 86 (median age: 53). Among them, 10 have underlying illnesses, nine are admitted to hospitals with MERS outbreaks while three are healthcare workers in hospitals with MERS outbreaks. Two are contacts of previously confirmed patients. One had frequent contact with camels and consumption of raw camel milk. In addition, two previously confirmed patients died.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 13 August 2015)

Nigeria: Avian Influenza, poultry

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) have been reported in Abia and Enugu States of Nigeria.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 August 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,792 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,524 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 13 August 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 13 August 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,484 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,951 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 13 August 2015)

Italy: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Two fatal cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease were reported in Salento, Italy. The victims frequented the same areas for groceries and food markets.

(Source: ProMED-mail 12 August 2015)

USA: Legionellosis [Update]

Between 10 July and 10 August 2015, a total of 113 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported in New York City, USA. Twelve of them died.

(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre 11 August 2015)

USA: Cyclosporiasis [Update]

As of 10 August 2015, 457 cases of Cyclospora infection were reported across USA. 29 states were affected. Clusters of illness linked to restaurants have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin and Georgia.

(Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 11 August 2015)

Canada: Cyclosporiasis

83 cases of Cyclospora infection were reported across Canada. Cases are mainly in Ontario; there are also cases in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 August 2015)

China: Anthrax

There were 19 cases of anthrax in Shaanxi province, China.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 August 2015)

Algeria: Brucellosis

There were 14 cases of brucellosis in Bouira province, Algeria. The patients have consumed contaminated milk.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 August 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,791 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,524 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 August 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 August 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,465 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,951 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 August 2015)

USA: Plague

A case of plague has been detected in Boulder County, Colorado, USA. The patient had found a dead chipmunk on his/her property before the onset of symptoms.

(Source: ProMED-mail 8 August 2015)