Travel Health Service Year 2016

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
Vietnam	97,476	World Health Organization, 23 February 2016

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2016 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2016	Source of information and date of report
Australia	155	World Health Organization, 23 February 2016
Brazil	116,966	World Health Organization, 26 February 2016
Cambodia	562	World Health Organization, 23 February 2016
Guangdong	4	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 February 2016
India	1,055	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 January 2016
Japan	37^#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 1 March 2016
Lao PDR	135	World Health Organization, 23 February 2016
Mexico	10,702	World Health Organization, 26 February 2016
Philippines	12,904	World Health Organization, 23 February 2016
Singapore	4,763^{^}	Singapore National Environment Agency, 3 March 2016
Sri Lanka	10,312	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 3 March 2016
Taiwan	369	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 25 February 2016
Thailand	9,639	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 2 March 2016

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
^ Cumulative cases since 3 January 2016
# Cumulative cases since 4 January 2016.

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: Zika virus infection

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (March 7) received notification of two additional imported cases of Zika virus infection in the Mainland from the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and again urged the public to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures during travel. Pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to the affected areas.

The cases involve a 47-year-old man and his 6-year-old daughter. They arrived at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport from Venezuela on March 3 and were afebrile at the airport. They subsequently travelled to Enping, Jiangmen, Guangdong and developed fever and rash on March 5. They are now hospitalised for isolation and management and are in a stable condition.

To date, 12 imported cases of Zika Virus Infection have been notified in the Mainland.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 7 March 2016)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Between 1 and 16 February 2016, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified the World Health Organization of 6 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection, including 3 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 29 February 2016)

Mainland: Zika virus infection

The National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province announced an additional imported case of Zika virus infection in Mainland China. The male patient aged 40 from Jiangmen, Guangdong, works in Venezuela.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 1 March 2016)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Zika virus infection

On 25 February 2016, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines notified the World Health Organization of the country’s first case of Zika virus infection.

(Source: World Health Organization 1 March 2016)

Mainland: Zika virus infection

The National Health and Family Planning Commission announced the sixth imported case of Zika virus infection in Mainland China. The patient was confirmed to have the infection after returning from Suriname.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 26 February 2016)

The National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province announced two additional imported case of Zika virus infection in Mainland China. The patients were confirmed to have the infection after returning from Venezuela.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 28 February 2016)

India: Hepatitis E

Himachal Pradesh, India reported an outbreak of hepatitis E. Twenty five percent of Shimla's population was affected. Drinking water supply was found to be contaminated with the virus.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 February 2016)