Travel Health Service Year 2014

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News Digest (18 February 2014 - 24 February 2014

Take precautions against dengue fever when travelling abroad

Dengue fever is an endemic disease in most Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Travellers visiting these places are advised to protect themselves against mosquitoes all year round.

The recent dengue fever activity in Asia has been more severe. Various popular tourist attractions among Hong Kong people including Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia, observed recent persistent increase in the number of dengue fever cases. Other neighbouring Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan and India, also recorded rising dengue fever activities.

Outbreaks of dengue fever were observed in Guangdong province in China, Brazil, Costa Rica, Columbia, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic in the recent year.. It was expected that dengue fever activities will continue to rise in coming months in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Travellers planning to travel in these areas should take precautions against the disease.

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2013 *

 

Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2013

Source of information and
date of report

Cambodia

16,722

World Health Organization, 12 February 2014

China
  Guangdong province


2,895


Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 14 February 2014

India

70, 767

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 December 2013

Taiwan

897

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 24 February 2014

Vietnam

66,140

World Health Organization, 12 February 2014


Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2014 *

 

Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2014

Source of information and
date of report

Australia

182

World Health Organization, 12 February 2014

Brazil

18,580

World Health Organization, 18 February 2014

Lao PDR

67

World Health Organization, 12 February 2014

Malaysia

2,985

World Health Organization, 12 February 2014

Mexico

6,311

World Health Organization, 18 February 2014

New Caledonia

21

World Health Organization, 12 February 2014

Philippines

3,549

World Health Organization, 12 February 2014

Singapore

2,689

Singapore National Environment Agency, 21 February 2014

Sri Lanka

4,355

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 21 February 2014

Thailand

1,960

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 18 February 2014

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.

Travellers should stay vigilant against dengue fever and adopt the following personal preventive measures against mosquito bite:

* Always wear long-sleeved clothing 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;
* 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.

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human 

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 23) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Jiangmen from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. As of yesterday, a total of 357 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (75 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (14 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 24 February 2014)

 

Guinea: measles

More than 1590 measles cases, including six deaths, were reported in Guinea.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 February 2014)

 

Dominica: Chikungunya Fever

Since 16 January 2014, Dominica recorded more than 31 cases of Chikungunya Fever.

(Source: ProMED-mail 23 February 2014)

 

Caribbean: Chikungunya Fever

Outbreaks of Chikungunya Fever were reported in St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Martinique, Guadeloupe, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and French Guiana of Caribbean.

(Source: ProMED-mail 23 February 2014)

 

India: Rabies

A 24-year-old man in Tambaram of Tamil Nadu state of India died from rabies .

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 21) received notification of four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Zhaoqing, Jiangmen and Guangzhou from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Jilin from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The case in Zhaoqing involves a woman aged 46 while the case in Jiangmen is a man aged 69. They are hospitalised for treatment. The case in Guangzhou is a man aged 64 who died on February 18. The case in Jilin involves a man aged 50 who is hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 356 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (74 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (14 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 22 February 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human 

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 20) received notification of two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Anhui from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The case in Guangzhou involves a man aged 81 while the case in Anhui is a man aged 60. They are hospitalised for treatment. As of yesterday, a total of 352 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 21 February 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Foshan and Hunan according to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities. The case in Foshan involves a man aged 79 while the case in Hunan is a woman aged 29. They are hospitalised for treatment. As of 19 February, a total of 350 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (70 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (14 cases), Anhui (eight cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case).

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 20 February 2014)

 

Bolivia: Hantavirus Infection

Bolivia reported a fatal case of Hantavirus infection on 15 February and a person from the Cochabamba tropics died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2014)

 

Cambodia: Avian Influenza, human

According to the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia, one new human case of H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed. This is the 3rd case this year and the case is a 4-year-old boy from Kratie province.


(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (February 17), an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan according to the latest report of the Mainland health authorities. The patient is a 64-year-old man who is under treatment in hospital.  As of yesterday, a total of 348 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 18 February 2014)

 

Indonesia: Rabies

A 7-year-old boy in Buleleng in Bali of Indonesia died from rabies .

(Source: Promed Mail 18 February 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 16) received notification of three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Shenzhen (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Jiangsu and Anhui (one case each) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The patient in Shenzhen is a man aged 44. The case in Jiangsu is a man aged 84 while the case in Anhui is a man aged 63. All of them are under treatment in hospital.

 As of yesterday, a total of 347 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (69 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (12 cases), Anhui (eight cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case). 

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 16 February 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (February 15) received notification of four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou (two cases) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Anhui and Hunan (one case each) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The cases in Guangzhou involve a four-year-old girl and a 79-year-old man. The case in Anhui involves a 14-year-old girl while the case in Hunan is a 46-year-old man. All of them are under treatment in hospital.

 As of yesterday, a total of 344 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (68 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (40 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (12 cases), Anhui (seven cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case).

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 16 February 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

 The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification yesterday (February 14) of two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangzhou and Jiangmen (one case each) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The case in Guangzhou involves a man aged 78 who died yesterday. The case in Jiangmen is a woman aged 66 who is still under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 340 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (135 cases), Guangdong (66 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (40 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (11 cases), Anhui (six cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Hebei (one case).

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 15February 2014)