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	801	World Health Organization, 10 October 2017
Brazil	219,040	World Health Organization, 13 October 2017
Cambodia	2,534	World Health Organization, 10 October 2017
India	87,018	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 15 October 2017
Guangdong	642	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 13 October 2017
Japan	202^#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 17 October 2017
Lao PDR	9,247	World Health Organization, 10 October 2017
Macau	6"	Health Bureau of Macau, 22 August 2017
Malaysia	70,447	World Health Organization, 10 October 2017
Mexico	49,231	World Health Organization, 13 October 2017
Philippines	76,391	World Health Organization, 10 October 2017
Singapore	2,260	Singapore National Environment Agency, 19 October 2017
Sri Lanka	161,494	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 19 October 2017
Taiwan	10”	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 19 October 2017
Thailand	42,035	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 18 October 2017
Vietnam	143,254	World Health Organization, 10 October 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.

Madagascar: Plague [Update]

The outbreak of plague in Madagascar continues. Between 1 August and 19 October 2017, a total of 1,297 cases including 102 deaths have been reported. Of these, 846 cases were clinically classified as pneumonic plague.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 October 2017)

Uganda: Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever

Two fatal cases of Marburg haemorrhagic fever were reported in Uganda.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 October 2017)

Taiwan: Dengue fever [Update]

One additional indigenous dengue case has been confirmed in northern Taiwan.

(Source: CDC, ROC (Taiwan) 20 October 2017)

Madagascar: Plague [Update]

The outbreak of plague in Madagascar continues. Between 1 August and 15 October 2017, a total of 849 cases including 67 deaths have been reported. Of these, 568 cases were clinically classified as pneumonic plague. At least 39 healthcare workers have contracted plague since the beginning of the outbreak.

(Source: World Health Organization 17 October 2017)

Madagascar: Plague [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health drew the public's attention to the ongoing outbreak of plague in Madagascar, and urged travellers to observe heightened vigilance on rodents, anti-flea precautions and strict environmental hygiene.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), from August 1 to October 12, a total of 684 plague cases including 57 deaths were reported in Madagascar and 18 out of 22 regions were affected.

Although plague has been endemic in Madagascar, unlike past endemic patterns, the outbreak this year arrived earlier than the usual surge from September to April. More cases of pneumonic plague, which can be transmitted from human to human, were recorded and, apart from endemic rural areas, urban cities were affected this year.

Travellers should take heed of the health advice below during travel:

Prevent flea bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and applying insect repellent/insecticide. DEET-containing insect repellent can be applied to exposed skin and clothing, while insecticide containing permethrin can be applied to clothing, not the skin;
Never touch rodents, dead animals and their tissues or contaminated materials;
Avoid close contact with patients, especially those with cough or chest infection;
Avoid going to crowded areas;
Seek medical care immediately in case of sudden onset of fever, chills, painful lumps, shortness of breath with coughing and/or blood-tainted sputum; and
Consult a doctor immediately after contact or exposure to pneumonic plague patients or high-risk exposures, such as bites from fleas or direct contact with body fluids or tissues of potentially infected animals, for prompt assessment of the need for preventive medication.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 19 October 2017)

USA: Hepatitis A

The San Diego County, California USA reported a hepatitis A outbreak with more than 500 people affected. The majority of people who have contracted hepatitis A during this outbreak have been homeless and/or illicit drug users.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 October 2017)