Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News(26 May 2015 - 1 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, 19 May 2015 |
Brazil |
745,957 |
World Health Organization, 22 May 2015 |
Cambodia |
617 |
World Health Organization, 19 May 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
30
202 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 29 May 2015 |
India |
3,061 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 April 2015 |
Japan |
83 |
National National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 26 May 2015 |
Lao PDR |
238 |
World Health Organization, 19 May 2015 |
Malaysia |
41,451 |
World Health Organization, 19 May 2015 |
Mexico |
23,332 |
World Health Organization, 22 May 2015 |
Philippines |
21,962 |
World Health Organization, 19 May 2015 |
Singapore |
3,246 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 28 May 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
14,396 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 27 May 2015 |
Thailand |
13,187 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 27 May 2015 |
Vietnam |
10,892 |
World Health Organization, 19 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.
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring three additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea. According to the health authority of Korea, the three patients include two in-patients hospitalised in the same ward to which the first case was admitted from May 15 to 17 while the other is a family member of an in-patient hospitalised in the same ward. To date, 17 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 1 June 2015)
Qatar: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The National IHR Focal Point of Qatar notified WHO of 1 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. The case is a 73-year-old male from Doha city.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 May 2015)
Mainland: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
On 29 May 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of one confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The case is a 44 year-old male from the Republic of Korea.
(Source: World Health Organization 30 May 2015)
Taiwan: Avian Influenza, poultry
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 and H5N8 among poultries were reported in Taiwan.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 29 May 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,644 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,425 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 29 May 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,745 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,911 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 29 May 2015)
USA: Avian Influenza, poultry
Cases of avian influenza A (H5N2) have been confirmed in several turkey farms in Minnesota, USA. Two more outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed in the US states of Iowa and Nebraska.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 & 29 May 2015)
Taiwan: Measles
Taiwan recorded 12 confirmed cases of measles this year, 11 of them were local cases.
(Source: Centers for Disease Control, R.O.C. (Taiwan) 28 May 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,639 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,423 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 28 May 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,735 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,911 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 28 May 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring two additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea, and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel. According to the health authority of Korea, the two latest patients (a 71-year-old male and a 28-year-old female) had contact with the male index case aged 68 confirmed on May 20. These are the sixth and seventh MERS cases in Korea.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 28 May 2015)
Pakistan: Amoebic meningoencephalitis
5 deaths due to amoebic meningoencephalitis have been recorded in the past month in Pakistan. The amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, ponds and canals.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 May 2015)
India: Anthrax
India reported 10 cases of anthrax in Kapadanga village in Odisha, 2 of them died. The health team suspected that consumption of raw beef might be the reason behind the spread of the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 May 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
The Department of Health is closely monitoring an additional case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea, and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel. According to the health authority of Korea, the latest patient is a doctor who had contact with the index case aged 68 confirmed on May 20. This is the fifth MERS case in Korea.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 27 May 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,641 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,420 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 26 May 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,706 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,908 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 26 May 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring four 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 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 26 May 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring one additional case of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by
Korea, and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel. According to the health authority of Korea, the female patient is the daughter of the 76-year-old male patient. The male patient shared the same hospital room with the 68-year-old index case and was laboratory-confirmed on May 21. This is the fourth MERS case in Korea.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 26 May 2015)
Canada: Salmonella infection
An outbreak of salmonellosis was reported in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, Canada with cases of human illness related to contact with live baby poultry originating from a hatchery in Alberta. Investigation was on-going.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 May 2015)
Brazil: Yellow fever
The Health Department confirmed on 21 May 2015 the second fatal case of
yellow fever in Brasilia,
Brazil this year while the Federal District also confirmed the second case of death from yellow fever.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 May 2015)
USA: Lassa fever
A USA traveller who recently returned from Liberia has died in a New Jersey hospital of
Lassa Fever.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 March 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,640 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,418 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 25 May 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,696 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,908 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 25 May 2015)
India: Anthrax
India reported 40 suspected cases of
anthrax in West Bengal's Bankura villages on 25 May 2015.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 May 2015)
Kenya: Cholera
Kenya has detected 3234
cholera cases in 11 counties since December 2014.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 May 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring 14 additional cases of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including two deaths, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (12 cases),
United Arab Emirates (one case) and
Qatar (one case), 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 24 May 2015)
Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 May 2015)
Kazakhstan: Avian Influenza, poultry
An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5
avian influenza has been detected in wild bird in Guryev,
Kazakhstan.
(Source: ProMED-mail 23 May 2015)
USA: Avian Influenza, poultry
Four more outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic
avian influenza have been confirmed in the
USA with 2 reported from Minnesota and 2 from Iowa respectively. Moreover, a third case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza was reported in Dixon County.
(Source: ProMED-mail 23&24 May 2015)
Panama: Hantavirus infection
Veraguas Ministry of Health authorities in
Panama confirm the death of a 42-year-old woman resided in Las Palmas district from
hantavirus infection.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 May 2015)
USA: Tularemia
The Larimer County Department of Health in Colorado,
USA has confirmed the first human case in 2015 of
tularaemia. The patient who lives in northern Larimer County, was infected while planting trees or gardening.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 May 2015)
Taiwan: Dengue fever
Tainan City of
Taiwan confirmed the first local case of
dengue fever this year and a 18-year-old student who resided in North district was affected.
(Source: Department of health, Tainan City Government 22 May 2015)