Current Travel Health News
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 01/01/2016 *
|
Cumulative reported no. |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
1,429 |
World Health Organization, 26 July 2016 |
Brazil |
1,244,583 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 2016 |
Cambodia |
1,771 |
World Health Organization, 26 July 2016 |
Guangdong |
78 |
Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 27 July 2016 |
India |
8,307 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 June 2016 |
Japan |
176# |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 26 July 2016 |
Lao PDR |
1,966 |
World Health Organization, 26 July 2016 |
Mexico |
36,037 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 2016 |
Philippines |
59,585 |
World Health Organization, 26 July 2016 |
Singapore |
10,036^ |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 28 July 2016 |
Sri Lanka |
28,548 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 27 July 2016 |
Taiwan |
375 |
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 28 July 2016 |
Thailand |
25,037 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 26 July 2016 |
Vietnam |
25,441 |
World Health Organization, 26 July 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.
Nine confirmed cases of anthrax were reported in northern Russia, one of the patients died.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 August 2016)
Twelve confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis were reported in Manipur, India.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 August 2016)
Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
A case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was reported in Punjab, Pakistan. This is the first case in 2016.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 August 2016)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States of America issues travel guidance related to Miami neighborhood with active Zika spread. CDC recommends pregnant women not to travel to the identified area.
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0801-zika-travel-guidance.html(Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1 August 2016)
93 cases of hepatitis A were reported in Hawaii, USA. 29 of the patients required hospitalisation.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 July 2016)
Denmark: Avian Influenza, poultry
A surveillance programme on Avian Influenza found low pathogenic avian influenza virus H7H7 in mallard ducklings in a farm in South Denmark region.
(Source: Promed Mail 28 July 2016)
An additional 20 cases of pertussis were reported in Minnesota, USA. Oklahoma, USA has also seen an increase in pertussis this year.
(Source: Promed Mail 28 July 2016)
USA: Hand, foot and mouth disease
An increase of hand, foot and mouth disease was reported in North Carolina and Kansas, USA.
(Source: Promed Mail 28 July 2016)
Egypt reported 3 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 July 2016)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring nine additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, including two deaths, reported to the World Health Organization 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 in the places they visit.
Among the six male and three female patients aged from 24 to 86 (median: 73), eight had underlying illnesses. Three had contact with camels, another two had frequent contact with camels and consumption of their raw milk, and one had contact with previously confirmed patients. In addition, four previously confirmed patients died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 26 July 2016)