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 01/01/2016 *
|
Cumulative reported no. |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
1,496 |
World Health Organization, 9 August 2016 |
Brazil |
1,399,480 |
World Health Organization, 5 August 2016 |
Cambodia |
1,771 |
World Health Organization, 9 August 2016 |
Guangdong |
107 |
Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 16 August 2016 |
India |
15,099 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 July 2016 |
Japan |
188# |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 9 August 2016 |
Lao PDR |
2,365 |
World Health Organization, 9 August 2016 |
Mexico |
41,986 |
World Health Organization, 5 August 2016 |
Philippines |
59,585 |
World Health Organization, 9 August 2016 |
Singapore |
10,661^ |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 18 August 2016 |
Sri Lanka |
34,773 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 12 August 2016 |
Taiwan |
376 |
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 18 August 2016 |
Thailand |
31,363 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 17 August 2016 |
Vietnam |
48,798 |
World Health Organization, 9 August 2016 |
Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
^ Cumulative cases since 3 January 2016
# Cumulative cases since 4 January 2016.
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.
Worldwide: Poliomyelitis [Update]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated the temporary recommendations regarding the international spread of poliovirus. States currently exporting wild poliovirus or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), i.e. Pakistan and Afghanistan, should ensure that all residents and long-term visitors (i.e. > 4 weeks) of all ages receive a dose of polio vaccine between 4 weeks and 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 countries infected with but not exporting wild poliovirus or cVDPV, i.e. Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Myanmar, 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 should have access to an appropriate document to record their polio vaccination status.
(Source: World Health Organization 22 August 2016)
As of 19 August 2016, 8 cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H3N2) were reported in Michigan, USA. All cases had exposure to pigs at county fairs.
(Source: ProMED-mail 21 August 2016)
Four locally-acquired cases of malaria have been reported in Greece this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 21 August 2016)
India: Japanese Encephalitis [Update]
As of 17 August 2016, 360 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis were reported in India.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2016)
In the last 3 months, 91 cases of anthrax have been reported in Sirajganj district, Bangladesh. Anthrax breaks out in the district every year after the flood water recedes.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 August 2016)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Yellow Fever [Update]
Since March this year, a total of 2,269 suspected cases of yellow fever have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
(Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 19 August 2016)
Nigeria: Poliomyelitis [Update]
Following the report of 2 poliomyelitis cases, Nigeria declared the outbreak as a national public health emergency.
(Source: World Health Organization 18 August 2016)
USA: Zika virus infection [Update]
There were 35 locally-acquired cases of Zika virus infection in Florida, USA. Transmission in Miami Beach was reported.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 18 August 2016)
Cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli O157 infection were reported in Oregon, USA. The cases had attended the Washington County Fair.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 August 2016)
An imported case of Zika virus infection was reported in Taiwan. The patient had travelled to Florida, USA during the incubation period.
(Source: CDC, ROC (Taiwan) 17 August 2016)
As of 10 August 2016, 168 confirmed cases of hepatitis A were reported in Hawaii, USA. Majority of the cases had eaten imported frozen scallops, served raw.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2016)
4 cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H3N2) were reported in Ohio (2) and Michigan (2), USA. All reported attending fairs where they had exposure to pigs.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2016)
In the last 30 days, 2 fatal cases of scrub typhus have been reported in the eastern region of Nepal.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 August 2016)