Current 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 01/01/2015 *
|
Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2015 |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
1,201 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Brazil |
1,319,957 |
World Health Organization, 12 August 2015 |
Cambodia |
5,274 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
54
4,947 |
Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 August 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 4 September 2015 |
India |
9,874 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 July 2015 |
Japan |
162 |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 1 September 2015 |
Lao PDR |
892 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Malaysia |
75,795 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Mexico |
61,520 |
World Health Organization, 12 August 2015 |
Philippines |
48,872 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
Singapore |
6,512 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 3 September 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
19,847 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 3 September 2015 |
Thailand |
59,432 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 1 September 2015 |
Vietnam |
24,968 |
World Health Organization, 25 August 2015 |
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.
Mainland China: Dengue Fever
As of 6 September 2015, a total of 63 cases of dengue fever, including 2 imported and 61 local cases, were reported in Chaozhou of China.
(Source: Chaozhou Daily 7 September 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
Between 24 and 25 August 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 15 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 2 deaths. Eleven (11) of these reported cases are associated with a MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Riyadh city.
(Source: World Health Organization 2 September 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,792 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,529 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 3 September 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 3 September 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,638 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,953 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 3 September 2015)
Jordan: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
Between 26 and 28 August 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Jordan notified WHO of 4 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death. All these cases are associated with a MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Amman city.
(Source: World Health Organization 1 September 2015)
France: Dengue fever
2 cases of locally acquired dengue fever were reported in Nimes, France.
(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre 1 September 2015)
USA: West Nile Virus infection
Massachusetts of USA reported 2 cases of West Nile Virus infection this year. Both cases occurred in Cambridge.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 September 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,792 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,529 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 1 September 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 1 September 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,609 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,953 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 1 September 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,790 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,528 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 August 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 August 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,603 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,953 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 August 2015)
Brazil: Zika Virus Infection
A case of Zika virus infection was reported in Parana of Brazil. The patient lives in Sao Miguel city.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 August 2015)
Morocco: Anthrax
9 cases of cutaneous anthrax were reported in Imilchil, Morocco. The patients had close contact with cattle.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 August 2015)
Algeria: Rabies
A case of rabies was reported in Tlemcen, Algeria. The 50-year-old patient was bitten by a wolf in the forest.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 August 2015)
USA: Plague
A fatal case of plague involving an elderly resident was reported in Utah, USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 August 2015)
USA: Mumps
An outbreak of mumps with around 100 cases was reported in Illinois, USA. The outbreak began in spring this year on the University of Illinois campus.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 August 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring 13 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit.
According to the WHO, the patients comprise nine men and four women aged from 26 to 78 (median age: 49). Among them, 12 are associated with an outbreak in a hospital in the capital of the KSA, Riyadh, eight have underlying illnesses, seven are contacts of previously confirmed patients and three are healthcare workers. In addition, one previously confirmed patient died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 28 August 2015)