Travel Health Service Year 2016

Current Travel Health News

Take precautions against dengue fever when travelling abroad

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	1,667	World Health Organization, 13 January 2016
Brazil	1,649,008	World Health Organization, 15 January 2016
Cambodia	15,412	World Health Organization, 13 January 2016
Guangdong	1,312	Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 9 October 2015
India	97,740	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 December 2015
Lao PDR	1,952	World Health Organization, 13 January 2016
Malaysia	111,285	World Health Organization, 13 January 2016
Mexico	219,593	World Health Organization, 15 January 2016
Philippines	169,435	World Health Organization, 13 January 2016
Sri Lanka	29,777	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 14 January 2016
Vietnam	79,912	World Health Organization, 13 January 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
Japan	9^#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 19 January 2016
Singapore	1,554^{^}	Singapore National Environment Agency, 21 January 2016
Taiwan	307	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 21 January 2016
Thailand	2,380	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 19 January 2016

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
^ Cumulative local 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.

Haiti: Zika virus infection

On 18 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for Haiti notified WHO of 5 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection.

(Source: World Health Organization 21 January 2016)

India: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of high pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus infection was reported in Tripura, India.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 January 2016)

Bolivia: Zika virus infection

On 16 January 2016, the Ministry of Health of Bolivia notified WHO of the first laboratory-confirmed case of locally-acquired Zika virus infection.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 January 2016)

Taiwan: Zika virus infection

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control announced the first imported case of Zika virus infection identified in Taiwan.

(Source: Centers for Disease Control, R.O.C. (Taiwan) 19 January 2016)

Africa, Americas, Asia, Caribbean, Oceania: Countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of United States of America updated the list of countries that have past or current evidence of Zika virus transmission. Pregnant women should consider deferring their trip to these areas. Women preparing for pregnancy and those who must travel to any of these areas should seek medical advice from their doctor before the trip and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Travellers who return from areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission and feel unwell should seek medical advice as soon as possible and provide travel details to their doctor.

http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/43088.html

(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of United States of America 19 January 2016)