Travel Health Service Year 2017

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 01/01/2017 *

 

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

Source of information and date of report

Australia

695

World Health Organization, 15 August 2017

Brazil

192,123

World Health Organization, 11 August 2017

Cambodia

1,604

World Health Organization, 15 August 2017

India

33,964

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 13 August 2017

Guangdong

84

Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 14 August 2017

Japan

116#

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 15 August 2017

Lao PDR

5,740

World Health Organization, 15 August 2017

Macau

5"

Health Bureau of Macau, 17 August 2017

Malaysia

59,521

World Health Organization, 15 August 2017

Mexico

6,086

World Health Organization, 11 August 2017

Philippines

43,770

World Health Organization, 15 August 2017

Singapore

1,826

Singapore National Environment Agency, 17 August 2017

Sri Lanka

137,279

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 17 August 2017

Taiwan

3”

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 17 August 2017

Thailand

29,844

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 17 August 2017

Vietnam

80,555

World Health Organization, 15 August 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.


Romania: Measles [Update]

As of 11 August, 8,493 cases of measles have been reported in Romania. 32 people died.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 August 2017)

 

Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever [Update]

22 suspected cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever were reported in Pakistan this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 August 2017)

 

South Sudan: Malaria

An outbreak of malaria in South Sudan has killed over 4,000 people since February 2017.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 August 2017)

 

Australia: Mumps

14 cases of mumps have been diagnosed in Queensland, Australia.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2017)

 

Brazil: Mumps

Since April 2017, 230 cases of mumps have been reported in Manaus, Brazil. The cases were mainly in schools.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2017)

 

Democratic Republic of Congo: Cholera [Update]

So far this year, 16,539 suspected cases of cholera including 462 deaths were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 August 2017)

 

Philippines: Avian Influenza, human

Two farm workers were isolated for suspected H5 avian influenza infection in northern Luzon, Philippines.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 August 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 one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) was recorded from August 11 to 17 in Hunan, and strongly urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The 47-year-old male patient in Xiangxi was known to have had exposure to a live poultry market. He had onset on August 9 and subsequently passed away on August 13.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 18 August 2017)

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring 26 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Among the 18 male and eight female patients aged from 12 to 89, 11 had underlying illnesses and five had contact with camels and consumed camel milk. Thirteen (including eight healthcare workers) had contact with confirmed MERS cases and they were associated with a nosocomial cluster. In addition, two previously confirmed patients died.

"Travellers to the Middle East, particularly in the summer vacation, should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry, and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"As the Hajj pilgrimage will begin in late August, pilgrims visiting Mecca, the KSA, should be vigilant against MERS. Those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic renal disease and immunodeficiency, are more likely to develop severe infections if they are exposed to MERS-CoV. Pilgrims should hence consult healthcare providers before travel to review the risk and assess whether pilgrimage is advisable," the spokesman added.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 18 August 2017)

 

Nigeria: Lassa fever [Update]

So far this year, 366 suspected cases of Lassa fever with 56 deaths were reported in Nigeria.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2017)

 

Italy: Measles [Update]

Since the beginning of this year, 4,001 cases of measles have been reported in Italy. Among the cases, 275 were healthcare workers.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2017)

 

Switzerland: Avian influenza, wild birds

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza(H5N8) have been reported in Switzerland.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 August 2017)

 

USA: Cyclosporiasis

At least 251 people in 35 states in USA were reported to have contracted Cyclospora infection. So far, no food source has been connected to the outbreak.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 16 August 2017)