Travel Health Service Year 2015

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	1,350,676	World Health Organization, 3 September 2015
Cambodia	5,274	World Health Organization, 25 August 2015
Guangdong Chaozhou Taiwan	160^# 9,566^{^}	Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 September 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 14 September 2015
India	17,340	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, August 2015
Japan	174	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 8 September 2015
Lao PDR	892	World Health Organization, 25 August 2015
Malaysia	75,795	World Health Organization, 25 August 2015
Mexico	90,627	World Health Organization, 3 September 2015
Philippines	48,872	World Health Organization, 25 August 2015
Singapore	6,754	Singapore National Environment Agency, 10 September 2015
Sri Lanka	20,278	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 11 September 2015
Thailand	66,714	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 9 September 2015
Vietnam	24,968	World Health Organization, 25 August 2015

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
# Local cases
^ Cumulative local cases since this summer

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.

Taiwan: Dengue fever

As the dengue activity in southern Taiwan remains high, public are reminded to take anti-mosquito measures when travelling to the area and other Southeast Asian countries, in order to prevent dengue fever.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 16 September 2015)

Brazil: Yellow fever

From January to September 2015, 3 confirmed human cases of yellow fever were reported in Brazil, with transmission in Goias state.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 September 2015)

India: Malaria

So far this year, 1,448 cases of malaria have been reported in Haryana, India.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 September 2015)

India: Leptospirosis

Cases of leptospirosis were reported in coastal areas like Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Sindhudurg in India.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 September 2015)

Taiwan: Avian Influenza, poultry

Infection of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 among ducks at 2 farms was reported in Tainan and Chiayi, Taiwan.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 September 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,792 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,530 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 September 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,756 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,953 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 September 2015)

Senegal: Chikungunya

The health authority of Senegal notified WHO of active circulation of chikungunya virus in the region of Kédougou. As of 8 September 2015, ten chikungunya confirmed cases were reported.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 September 2015)