Travel Health Service Year 2017

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 01/01/2017 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2017	Source of information and date of report
Australia	545	World Health Organization, 6 June 2017
Brazil	144,326	World Health Organization, 9 June 2017
Cambodia	385	World Health Organization, 6 June 2017
India	11,402	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 May 2017
Guangdong	42	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 14 June 2017
Japan	75^#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 13 June 2017
Lao PDR	1,559	World Health Organization, 6 June 2017
Malaysia	41,574	World Health Organization, 6 June 2017
Mexico	8,222	World Health Organization, 20 April 2017
Philippines	33,760	World Health Organization, 6 June 2017
Singapore	1,242	Singapore National Environment Agency, 14 June 2017
Sri Lanka	62,857	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 15 June 2017
Taiwan	0”	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 15 June 2017
Thailand	13,961	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 14 June 2017
Vietnam	29,701	World Health Organization, 6 June 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.

Taiwan: Japanese Encephalitis [Update]

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control announced an additional case of Japanese encephalitis in a 53-year-old female who resides in Pingtung County. According to the epidemiological investigation, the case had not recently travelled overseas.

(Source: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control 19 June 2017)

Brazil: Yellow Fever [Update]

The yellow fever outbreak in Brazil is ongoing. Between 18 and 31 May 2017, Brazil has reported 34 additional confirmed cases of yellow fever.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 June 2017)

Venezuela: Malaria

3 fatal cases of malaria were reported in Bolivar state of Venezuela.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 June 2017)

Yemen: Cholera [Update]

Almost 151,000 suspected cholera cases were reported in Yemen.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 June 2017)

Philippines: Leptospirosis

The northern Luzon of Philippines reported a 40% rise in cases of leptospirosis infection in the first 6 months of 2017 compared to the same period last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 June 2017)

Chile: Hepatitis A

There is an increase in the number of cases of Hepatitis A in Antofagasta region of Chile, related to the consumption of food from street vendors.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 June 2017)

Mainland: Avian influenza, human [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is monitoring a notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission that five additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including one death, were recorded from June 9 to 15, and strongly urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The four male patients and one female, who came from Beijing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang and were aged from 41 to 68, had onset from April 25 to June 6. Among them, three were known to have exposure to poultry or poultry markets.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 16 June 2017)

United Kingdom: Measles

The United Kingdom is investigating an outbreak of measles in South Wales.