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 |
1,178 |
World Health Organization, 11 August 2015 |
Brazil |
1,319,957 |
World Health Organization, 12 August 2015 |
Cambodia |
4,674 |
World Health Organization, 11 August 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
30
1,837 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 21 August 2015 |
India |
9,874 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 July 2015 |
Japan |
144 |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 18 August 2015 |
Lao PDR |
743 |
World Health Organization, 11 August 2015 |
Malaysia |
70,680 |
World Health Organization, 11 August 2015 |
Mexico |
61,520 |
World Health Organization, 12 August 2015 |
Philippines |
40,593 |
World Health Organization, 11 August 2015 |
Singapore |
6,031 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 20 August 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
19,091 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 20 August 2015 |
Thailand |
51,500 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 19 August 2015 |
Vietnam |
21,154 |
World Health Organization, 11 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.
Bolivia: Leishmaniasis
41 cases of Leishmaniasis have been reported in the past 7 months in Bolivia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 23 August 2015)
USA: Plague
A case of plague, involving a 65-year-old man has been reported in New Mexico, USA. The other case this year was of a 52-year-old woman who died of her illness.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 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 19 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including one death, 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 twelve males and seven females aged from two to 98 (median age: 63). Among them, 15 are associated with an outbreak in a hospital in the capital of the KSA, Riyadh; 14 have underlying illnesses; three are contacts of previously confirmed patients and two are healthcare workers. In addition, four previously confirmed patients died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 22 August 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,795 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,526 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 21 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 21 August 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,533 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,952 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 21 August 2015)
Haiti: Cholera
From January 2015 up to 25 July 2015, there were 20,043 cases of cholera in Haiti. 171 of them died.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2015)
Tanzania: Cholera
4 people have died of cholera in Dar Es Salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,792 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,526 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 20 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 20 August 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,518 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,952 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 20 August 2015)
India: Malaria
A total of 3,434 students of government-run schools in Kandhamal district, India have tested positive for malaria.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 August 2015)
Scotland and Sweden: Meningococcal disease
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring meningococcal cases in Scotland and Sweden and has offered appropriate health advice to travellers and members of the public.
According to the health authority of Scotland, there are four confirmed cases of meningococcal disease associated with an international Scout jamboree, a 12-day event in Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Among them, three were Scouts from Scotland who had returned from the jamboree while the fourth is a parent of a Scout (not among the above three cases) who attended the event. The four cases have been admitted to hospital for further management. Two of them have been confirmed as serogroup W.
Meanwhile, according to the health authority of Sweden, there is one confirmed case of meningococcal infection and three more suspected cases are under investigation. All four were participants who had returned after attending the same event.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 19 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 12 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including one death, 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 three women aged 45 to 99 (median age: 64). They experienced onset of symptoms between July 29 and August 8. A 73-year-old patient passed away. Nine patients are in critical condition while two others are in stable condition.
Among them, all have underlying illnesses, nine are admitted to hospitals with MERS outbreaks, one is a contact of a previously confirmed patient and another had frequent contact with camels and consumption of raw camel milk. In addition, one previously confirmed patient died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 19 August 2015)
India: Japanese Encephalitis
3 fatal cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in Meghalaya, India.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 August 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,786 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,524 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 19 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 19 August 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,494 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,952 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 19 August 2015)
USA: Cyclosporiasis [Update]
As of 17 August 2015, 476 cases of Cyclospora infection were reported across USA. 29 states were affected.
(Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 18 August 2015)
Worldwide: Poliomyelitis [Update]
The 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 that all residents and long-term visitors (i.e. > 4 weeks) receive a dose of polio vaccine between 4 weeks to 12 months prior to international travel. For those undertaking urgent travel (i.e. within 4 weeks) who have not received a dose of polio vaccine in the previous 4 weeks to 12 months, should 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.
The WHO also encourages residents and long-term visitors of those infected countries which are not exporting wild poliovirus, i.e. Nigeria and Somalia, to receive a dose of polio vaccine 4 weeks to 12 months prior to international travel. For those undertaking urgent travel (i.e. 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 17 August 2015)
Mainland China: Avian Influenza, poultry
Outbreaks involving two different strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N6 and H5N2) have been reported in Guangdong province and Jiangsu province of China respectively.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2015)
Ghana: Avian Influenza, poultry
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) have been reported in Greater Accra region of Ghana.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2015)
USA: Hantavirus infection
Two cases of hantavirus infection were reported in California, USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,790 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,524 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 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 17 August 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,489 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,952 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 August 2015)
USA: La Crosse Encephalitis
A case of La Crosse Encephalitis affecting a child was reported in Ohio, USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 August 2015)