Travel Health Service Year 2015

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News(5 May 2015 - 11 May 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, 5 May 2015

Brazil

460,502

World Health Organization, 30 April 2015

Cambodia

342

World Health Organization, 5 May 2015

Guangdong

Taiwan

22

179

Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 April 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 8 May 2015

India

2,482

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 March 2015

Japan

74

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 7 May 2015

Lao PDR

202

World Health Organization, 5 May 2015

Malaysia

38,517

World Health Organization, 5 May 2015

Mexico

17,622

World Health Organization, 30 April 2015

Philippines

19,946

World Health Organization, 5 May 2015

Singapore

2,817

Singapore National Environment Agency, 7 May 2015

Sri Lanka

13,171

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 6 May 2015

Thailand

9,765

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 8 May 2015

Vietnam

9,727

World Health Organization, 5 May 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.

 

Burkina Faso: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in a poultry farm in Tangora of Burkina Faso.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 May 2015)

 

Malawi: Cholera

The cholera outbreak continues in Chikwawa district of Malawi and the number of cases has increased to 281.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 May 2015)

 

USA: Avian Influenza, poultry

Iowa officials of USA announced that 2 more farms that hold a total of 4 million chickens tested positive for highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 May 2015)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 10) received notification of four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) with onset of symptoms between March 27 and April 12 from the National Health and Family Planning Commission, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 10 May 2015)

 

Liberia: Measles

Measles has claimed the lives of 11 children in north-western Gbarpolu County in northern Liberia.

(Source: ProMED-mail 9 May 2015)

 

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

The Department of Health (DH) is today (May 9) closely monitoring two additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Iran respectively, and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 9 May 2015)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The World Health Organization declares Liberia free of Ebola virus transmission on 9 May 2015.

(Source: World Health Organization 9 May 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,492 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,904 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 8 May 2015)

 

Panama: Hantavirus infection

A 79-year-old patient, resident of Los Hatillos in Pese, Panama, is hospitalised due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

(Source: ProMED-mail 8 May 2015)

 

Niger: Meningococcal meningitis [Update]

An outbreak of meningococcal meningitis has been reported in Niger since January 2015 and as of 3 May, 252 people died out of a total of 3304 cases.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 May 2015)

 

Guinea: Anthrax

A new outbreak of anthrax has been reported in the prefecture of Koubia in Guinea. Two people of the family who ate meat from an infected animal developed the disease.


(Source: ProMED-mail 7 May 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,592 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,387 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 7 May 2015)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 10,564 including 4,716 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 7 May 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,470 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,904 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 7 May 2015)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (May 6) closely monitoring an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Anhui, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 6 May 2015)

 

Worldwide: Poliomyelitis [Update]

World Health Organization (WHO) has updated the temporary recommendations regarding the international spread of wild poliovirus. States currently exporting wild poliovirus, i.e. Pakistan and Afghanistan should ensure all residents and long-term visitors (of over 4 weeks) to receive a dose of polio vaccine between 4 weeks to 12 months prior to international travel. For those undertaking urgent travel (within 4 weeks) who have not received a dose of polio vaccine in the previous 4 weeks to 12 months, receive a dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure as this will provide benefit, particularly for frequent travellers. Travellers are provided with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis to record their polio vaccination and serve as proof of vaccination.

WHO also encourages residents and long-term visitors (of over 4 weeks) of those infected countries which are not exporting wild poliovirus, i.e. Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Somalia and Iraq to have polio vaccination 4 weeks to 12 months prior to international travel. For those undertaking urgent travel (within 4 weeks) should be encouraged to receive a dose at least by the time of departure. Travellers who receive such vaccination have access to an appropriate document to record their polio vaccination status.

(Source: World Health Organization 5 May 2015)

 

USA: Avian Influenza, poultry

Officials in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin of USA reported on 5 May 2015 a total of 14 more confirmed or probable H5N2 avian influenza outbreaks on turkey and chicken farms.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 May 2015)

 

Nepal: Chickenpox

Three patients who took shelter after the earthquake developed chickenpox and additional cases were identified in Kathmandu, Nepal.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 May 2015)

 

Australia: Pertussis

So far this year, 115 pertussis cases have been reported in the Australian Capitol Territory, compared with 49 for the same period in 2014.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 May 2015)

 

Kenya: Cholera

At least 30 people have been admitted to a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya after they contracted cholera. Most of them are from Laini Saba in the Kibera slum.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 May 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,591 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,385 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 May 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,426 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,902 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 May 2015)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the Mainland, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. According to the Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province, the patient is a 39-year-old woman who is hospitalised for treatment in critical condition.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 2 May 2015)

 

Denmark: Listeriosis

Five cases of Listeriosis were reported in April in Denmark.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 April 2015)