Travel Health Service Year 2014

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News Digest (30 December 2014 - 5 Janauary 2015)

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

1,433

World Health Organization, 16 December 2014

Brazil

547,612

World Health Organization, 19 December 2014

Cambodia

3,543

World Health Organization, 16 December 2014

Guangdong

Taiwan

45,171

15,700

Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 December 2014
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 2 Janauary 2015

India

30,583

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 November 2014

Japan

335

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 24 December 2014

Lao PDR

1,695

World Health Organization, 16 December 2014

Malaysia

98,128

World Health Organization, 16 December 2014

Mexico

122,374

World Health Organization, 29 December 2014

New Caledonia

316

World Health Organization, 4 November 2014

Philippines

90,503

World Health Organization, 2 December 2014

Singapore

18,253

Singapore National Environment Agency, 31 December 2014

Sri Lanka

46,584

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 31 December 2014

Thailand

39,157

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 24 December 2014

Vietnam

17,766

World Health Organization, 16 December 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.

 

Egypt: Avian Influenza

The ministry of health of Egypt reported the first case of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in Cairo. The fatality was reported on Mon 29 December 2014.

(Source: ProMED-mail 03 January 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 2,730 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 1,739 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 02 January 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 9,633 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,827 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 02 January 2015)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 8,018 including 3,423 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 02 January 2015)

 

Mali: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Mali is 8 including 6 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 02 January 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 2,707 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 1,709 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 31 December 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 9,446 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,758 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 31 December 2014)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 8,018 including 3,423 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 31 December 2014)

 

United Kingdom: Ebola virus disease

On 29 December 2014, the United Kingdom notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of a confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in a health care worker who has returned from volunteering at an Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone. The case arrived at Glasgow late on 28 December 2014. After feeling unwell the case was admitted to Hospital and placed into strict isolation. Ebola virus Disease was confirmed on 29 December 2014. The patient was transferred for treatment in isolation at the Royal Free hospital in London on 30 December 2014.

(Source: World Health Organization 30 December 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 2,706 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 1,708 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 30 December 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 9,446 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,758 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 30 December 2014)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 7,977 including 3,413 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 30 December 2014)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (December 30) closely monitoring an additional human case of Avian Influenza A(H7N9) in Shenzhen notified by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province (GDHFPC). The female patient aged 35 was hospitalised for management in critical condition. This is the first case in Shenzhen this winter.

To date, 455 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland in Zhejiang (141 cases), Guangdong (112 cases), Jiangsu (59 cases), Shanghai (42 cases), Hunan (24 cases), Fujian (23 cases), Anhui (17 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (eight cases), Beijing (five cases), Shandong (five cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (one case) and Hebei (one case).

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

 

Russia: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza virus infection was reported in a Sakha Republic, Russia. The virus was detected from the wild bird Eurasia Wigeon.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 29 November 2014)