Travel Health Service Year 2015

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News(2 June 2015 - 8 June 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 01/01/2015 *

 

Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2015

Source of information and date of report

Australia

831

World Health Organization, 2 June 2015

Brazil

745,957

World Health Organization, 22 May 2015

Cambodia

704

World Health Organization, 2 June 2015

Guangdong

Taiwan

30

213

Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 5 June 2015

India

3,061

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 April 2015

Japan

90

National National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 2 June 2015

Lao PDR

261

World Health Organization, 2 June 2015

Malaysia

45,070

World Health Organization, 2 June 2015

Mexico

23,332

World Health Organization, 22 May 2015

Philippines

24,075

World Health Organization, 2 June 2015

Singapore

3,403

Singapore National Environment Agency, 4 June 2015

Sri Lanka

14,721

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 4 June 2015

Thailand

15,207

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 3 June 2015

Vietnam

11,389

World Health Organization, 2 June 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.

 

South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring 14 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea. According to the health authority of Korea, they include:
  • Three in-patients in Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital;
  • One in-patient of the same ward of another hospital in which another confirmed patient was admitted; and
  • Nine patients and one healthcare worker who had stayed in or admitted to the emergency department of another hospital with another confirmed patient from May 27 to 29.
To date, 63 MERS cases have been reported by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 7 June 2015)

 

South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health provides the latest information of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) involving 24 affected hospitals in Korea.

Apart from Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital which was released previously, the health authority of Korea today released the name of the other 23 health-care facilities which includes:
  • Seould Clinic, located at Dunpo-myeon, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do;
  • 365 Seoul Yeollin Clinic, located at Chonho-dong, Seoul;
  • Samsung Medical Center, located at Irwondong, Seoul
  • Konyang University Hospital, located at Seogu, Daejeon;
  • Dae-Chung Hospital, located at Seogu, Daejeon;
  • Asan Medical Center, located at Songpa-gu, Seoul;
  • Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, located at Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul;
  • Hanaro Clinic, located at Jung-gu, Seoul;
  • Yoon Chang Ok Clinic, located at Pil-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul;
  • Good Morning Hospital, located at Hapseong-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • Pureun Clinic, located at Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • 365 Yeonhap Clinic, located at Ichung-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • Bagae Hospital, located at Pyeongtaek-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • Yeonsei Herb Family Medicine, located at Bijeon-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • The Catholic University of Korea, St. Vincent's Hospital, located at Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • Hallym University Medical Center, located at Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • Medihols Hospital, located at Goean-dong, Spsa-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, located at Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • St. Mary's Family Medicine, located at Seongdong-gu, Seoul;
  • Osan Hankook Hospital, located at Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do;
  • Dankook University Hospital, located at Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do;
  • Daecheon 365 Yeonhap Clinic, located at Daecheon-dong, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do; and
  • Choi Seonyoung Clinic, located at Sunchang-eup, Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
(According to the Korean health authority, the English translation may not be official English name.)

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 7 June 2015)

 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 1 and 4 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 5 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

(Source: World Health Organization 6 June 2015)

 

Turkey: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 among poultries was reported in Turkey.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 June 2015)

 

USA: Campylobacteriosis

3 cases of campylobacteriosis infection were reported in California, USA. The cases were associated with consumption of raw goat milk.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 June 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,664 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,431 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 5 June 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,859 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,912 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 5 June 2015)

 

South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring five additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea. According to the health authority of Korea, they include:
  • One in-patient in the same ward of a hospital as the index and other cases, and two other in-patients in the same ward of the same hospital as other cases;
  • One in-patient at another hospital in the same ward as another case from May 25 to 28; and
  • One visitor who had contact with another case at another hospital on May 27.
To date, 40 MERS cases have been reported by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 5 June 2015)

 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 26 and 30 May 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 9 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 4 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 June 2015)

 

Oman: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

On 29 May 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Oman notified WHO of 1 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 June 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,657 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,431 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 June 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,850 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,912 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 June 2015)

 

Spain: Diphtheria

A case of diphtheria affecting a 6-year-old boy was reported in Spain.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 June 2015)

 

Ghana: Avian Influenza, poultry

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 among poultries were reported in Ghana.

(Source: ProMED-mail 3 June 2015)