Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News(25 August 2015 - 31 August 2015)
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 |
1,201 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Brazil |
1,319,957 |
World Health Organization, 12 August 2015 |
Cambodia |
5,274 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
30
3,225 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 28 August 2015 |
India |
9,874 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 July 2015 |
Japan |
151 |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 25 August 2015 |
Lao PDR |
892 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Malaysia |
75,795 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Mexico |
61,520 |
World Health Organization, 12 August 2015 |
Philippines |
48,872 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Singapore |
6,250 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 27 August 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
19,387 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 26 August 2015 |
Thailand |
55,428 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 25 August 2015 |
Vietnam |
24,968 |
World Health Organization, 25 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.
Worldwide: Influenza
Globally, influenza activity continued in the Southern hemisphere, with an increase in Oceania peaking in temperate South America. In the Northern hemisphere countries, influenza activity continued at low levels.
(Source: World Health Organization 27 August 2015)
Madagascar: Plague
12 cases of pneumonic plague have been reported in Madagascar and 8 of them died in 2 days. The disease was confined to a village that is less than 20 km from the city of Moramanga.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 August 2015)
Australia: Salmonella infection
An outbreak of salmonellosis was reported in Melbourne, Australia with 40 confirmed cases of human illness related to the consumption of mayonnaise in a hotel.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 August 2015)
Australia: Pertussis
So far this year, 270 cases of pertussis have been reported in Canberra, Australia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 August 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring 29 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including six deaths, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), 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 17 men and 12 women aged from 28 to 109 (median age: 63). Among them, 24 are associated with an outbreak in a hospital in the capital of the KSA, Riyadh, while one is related to a smaller outbreak in another hospital in Riyadh, 24 have underlying illnesses, four are contacts of previously confirmed patients and three are healthcare workers. In addition, one previously confirmed patient died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 27 August 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,797 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,528 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 27 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 27 August 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,582 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,952 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 27 August 2015)
Scotland and Sweden: Meningococcal disease [Update]
Between 8–19 August 2015, 8 cases (5 confirmed and 3 suspected) of meningococcal disease were reported from Scotland and Sweden following attendance at the World Scout Jamboree held in Japan.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 August 2015)
Philippines: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
The Philippines Department of Health reported that there was a 175% increase of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases in 2015, compared to last year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 August 2015)
Nigeria: Avian Influenza, poultry
Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) have been reported in Nigeria. De-population exercise has been carried out on 2 poultry farms in Delta State.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 August 2015)
Taiwan: Dengue fever
There is increasing number of dengue fever cases in Tainan, Taiwan.
(Source: Centers for Disease Control, R.O.C. (Taiwan) 25 August 2015)
USA: Cyclosporiasis [Update]
As of 21 August 2015, 495 cases of Cyclospora infection were reported across USA. 30 states were affected.
(Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 25 August 2015)
Kyrgyzstan: Anthrax, human
In Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan, 2 confirmed cases of anthrax were reported. The patients participated in the slaughter of cattle.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 August 2015)
USA: Tularaemia
A fatal case of tularaemia was reported in Wyoming, USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 August 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,792 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,527 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 25 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 25 August 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,541 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,952 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 25 August 2015)
India: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
A 50-year-old woman from Kutch in India died of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever on 21 August 2015.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 August 2015)
India: Hantavirus Infection
In the past 1.5 years, 14 cases of Hantavirus infection have been reported across India.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 August 2015)