Travel Health Service Year 2016

Current Travel Health News

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.
of cases since 01/01/2016

Source of information and date of report

Brazil

1,496,282

World Health Organization, 6 February 2017

India

111,880

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 December 2016

Philippines

176,411

World Health Organization, 28 March 2017


Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2017 *

 

Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2017

Source of information and date of report

Australia

333

World Health Organization, 28 March 2017

Cambodia

138

World Health Organization, 28 March 2017

Guangdong

13

Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 March 2017

Japan

45#

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 4 April 2017

Lao PDR

489

World Health Organization, 28 March 2017

Malaysia

21,946

World Health Organization, 28 March 2017

Mexico

5,898

World Health Organization, 27 March 2017

Singapore

760

Singapore National Environment Agency, 6 April 2017

Sri Lanka

29,687

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 5 April 2017

Taiwan

0”

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 6 April 2017

Thailand

7,501

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 5 April 2017

Vietnam

6,565

World Health Organization, 28 March 2017

Remarks:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
“ Locally-acquired
# Cumulative cases since 2 January 2017.

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.


Brazil: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

So far this year, Brazil reported 17,525 cases of Chikungunya fever.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 10 April 2017)

 

Peru: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

So far this year, Peru reported 411 cases of Chikungunya fever.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 10 April 2017)

 

Sweden: Campylobacteriosis

Since summer 2016, cases of Campylobacteriosis were reported in Sweden. The primary cause has been Swedish-produced fresh chicken.

(Source: ProMED-mail 9 April 2017)

 

New Zealand: Mumps

Since the beginning of the year, 39 cases of mumps were reported in New Zealand, most arising in West Auckland.

(Source: ProMED-mail 8 April 2017)

 

Mainland: Avian influenza, human [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Gansu, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

According to the Health and Family Planning Commission of Gansu Province, the male patient from Jiuquan, aged 82, has been hospitalised for management and his condition is serious now.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 8 April 2017)

 

Indonesia: Measles

Health officials in Australia, Canada, and Taiwan have reported cases of measles in travellers returning from Indonesia.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that travellers to Indonesia should make sure they are vaccinated against measles.

(Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 7 April 2017)

 

Austria: Measles

From the beginning of 2017 to 6 April 2017, 72 cases of measles have been reported in Austria.

(Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 7 April 2017)

 

Romania: Measles [Update]

From September 2016 to 31 March 2017, 4,025 cases of measles have been reported in Romania.

(Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 7 April 2017)

 

Belgium: Measles [Update]

From December 2016 to 31 March 2017, 266 cases of measles have been reported in Belgium.

(Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 7 April 2017)

 

France: Measles [Update]

From the beginning of 2017 to 28 February 2017, 79 cases of measles have been reported in France.

(Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 7 April 2017)

 

Germany: Measles [Update]

From the beginning of 2017 to 12 March 2017, 272 cases of measles have been reported in Germany.

(Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 7 April 2017)

 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring 19 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including two deaths, reported to the World Health Organization by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar, and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks in the places they visit.

In the KSA, the 18 patients are 10 men and eight women aged from 17 to 79, with eight having underlying illnesses. Among them, six patients had contact with camels and consumed camel milk, including the two who died, and 10 were associated with an outbreak in a hospital in Riyadh. In addition, four previously confirmed patients died.

In Qatar, the case involves a 62-year-old man with underlying illness, who did not have contact with camels or individuals with symptoms. He also did not travel in the past few months. Investigation is ongoing.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 5 April 2017)

 

Italy: Measles [Update]

From 1 January to 2 April 2017, 1,333 cases of measles have been reported in Italy.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 April 2017)

 

Portugal: Measles

Two cases of measles have been confirmed in Portugal. These were 2 isolated cases with no relation between them.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 April 2017)

 

Pakistan: Chikungunya fever [Update]

Over the past two months, 472 suspected cases of Chikungunya fever were reported in Gwadar and Pasni of Pakistan.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 April 2017)

 

Brazil: Yellow fever [Update]

As of 3 April 2017, yellow fever virus transmission continues to expand towards the Atlantic coast of Brazil.

The World Health Organization has determined that many areas of the State of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo should also be considered at risk for yellow fever transmission. For details, please visit http://www.who.int/csr/don/04-april-2017-yellow-fever-brazil/en/. Vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for international travellers visiting those areas in the States of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

The current advice for international travellers going to areas of Brazil deemed to be at risk is the following:

  • Vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days prior to the travel. Travellers with contraindications for yellow fever vaccine (children below 9 months, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with severe hypersensitivity to egg antigens, and severe immunodeficiency) or over 60 years of age should consult their health professional for advice;
  • Adoption of measures to avoid mosquito bites;
  • Awareness of symptoms and signs of yellow fever;
  • Seeking care in case of symptoms and signs of yellow fever, while travelling and upon return from areas at risk for yellow fever transmission.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 April 2017)