Travel Health Service Year 2014

Travel Health News Digest (26 August 2014 - 1 September 2014)

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 01/01/2014 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2014	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,147	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Brazil	659,051	World Health Organization, 28 July 2014
Cambodia	1,520	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Guangdong Taiwan	148 1,333	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 August 2014 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 1 September 2014
India	5,218	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 July 2014
Lao PDR	1,147	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Malaysia	53,246	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Mexico	39,269	World Health Organization, 28 July 2014
New Caledonia	105	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Philippines	35,264	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Singapore	13,941	Singapore National Environment Agency, 29 August 2014
Sri Lanka	28,511	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 29 August 2014
Thailand	19,425	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 19 August 2014
Vietnam	9,331	World Health Organization, 12 August 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 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.

Macau: Dengue Fever

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 30) received notification from the health authority of Macau concerning a locally acquired case of dengue fever in Macau. A CHP spokesman said that according to the information from the health authority of Macau, the local case of dengue fever reported in Macau involves a 82-year-old woman who had no travel history during the incubation period.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 30 August 2014)

India: Japanese Encephalitis

According to official in India, there are 37 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in Meghalaya state as of 29 August 2014.

(Source: ProMED-mail 30 August 2014)

India: Chikungunya Fever

Four confirmed cases of chikungunya fever were reported from Kochi, Kerala state of India and the first case was detected 2 weeks ago.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 August 2014)

Philippines: Chikungunya Fever

At least 23 cases of chikungunya fever have been confirmed in Iloilo province of Philippines.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 August 2014)

Panama: Hantavrius infection

Two new cases of hantavirus infection were confirmed by the Ministry of Health in Los Santos province of Panama.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 August 2014)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

There is a confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Senegal. The patient is from Guinea who traveled to Senegal.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 August 2014)

USA: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of low pathogenic H7 avian influenza virus infection was reported in a farm in Salem County, New Jersey, USA.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 27 August 2014)

Japan: Dengue Fever

Japan reported three epidemiological linked local cases of dengue fever. The three patients recalled mosquito bites at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

(Source: National Institute of Infectious Diseases 28 August 2014)

Nepal: Japanese Encephalitis

At least 6 people have died of Japanese encephalitis in Morang District, Nepal since mid-July 2014.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 August 2014)

India: Rabies

As of today, 18 people have died from rabies in Prune of Maharashtra state of India.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 August 2014)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 26 August 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 648 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 430 deaths.