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
Brazil	1,649,008	World Health Organization, 3 February 2016
Cambodia	15,412	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
Guangdong	1,312	Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 9 October 2015
Mexico	219,593	World Health Organization, 3 February 2016
Philippines	200,415	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
Sri Lanka	29,777	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 14 January 2016
Vietnam	97,476	World Health Organization, 9 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	102	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
India	1,055	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 January 2016
Japan	23^#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 9 February 2016
Lao PDR	96	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
Singapore	3,198^{^}	Singapore National Environment Agency, 11 February 2016
Taiwan	366	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 11 February 2016
Thailand	6,667	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 10 February 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.

United States of America: Zika virus infection

On 5 February 2016, the United States of America notified the World Health Organization of a probable case of sexual transmission of Zika virus.

(Source: World Health Organization, 12 February 2016)

Angola: Yellow fever

On 21 January 2016, Angola notified the World Health Organization of an outbreak of yellow fever. As of 8 February, a total of 164 suspected cases and 37 deaths had been reported.

(Source: World Health Organization, 12 February 2016)

India: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

A man from Rajkot district, Gujarat state of India had tested positive for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. He died on 9 Feb 2016.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 February 2016)

Americas, Africa, Asia and other areas: Zika virus infection

According to the World Health Organization, to date, 34 countries and areas have reported autochthonous Zika virus transmission or locally acquired infection since 2015, six with indication of viral circulation and one with a locally acquired case without vector borne transmission. They are detailed as follows:

A. Reported autochthonous transmission (34)

Africa (one): the Republic of Cape Verde;

Americas (26): Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin, Suriname, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela;

Southeast Asia (two): Maldives, Thailand;

Western Pacific (five): American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu;

B. Indication of viral circulation (six)

Africa (one): Gabon;

Southeast Asia (one): Indonesia;

Western Pacific (four): Cambodia, Fiji, the Philippines, Malaysia; and

C. Locally acquired without vector borne transmission (one)

Americas (one): the United States.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 15 February 2016)

Mainland: Zika virus infection

The National Health and Family Planning Commission announced the first imported case of Zika virus infection identified in Mainland China.

(Source: National Health and Family Planning Commission, 9 February 2016)