Current Travel Health News

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. of cases since 01/01/2016	Source of information and date of report
Australia	2,003	World Health Organization, 13 December 2016
Brazil	1,452,284	World Health Organization, 12 December 2016
Cambodia	1,771	World Health Organization, 13 December 2016
Guangdong	533	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 14 December 2016
India	101,388	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 11 December 2016
Japan	327#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 20 December 2016
Lao PDR	5,373	World Health Organization, 13 December 2016
Malaysia	95,665	World Health Organization, 13 December 2016
Mexico	124,580	World Health Organization, 12 December 2016
Philippines	101,401	World Health Organization, 13 December 2016
Singapore	13,033^	Singapore National Environment Agency, 22 December 2016
Sri Lanka	49,225	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 21 December 2016
Taiwan	380”	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 22 December 2016
Thailand	60,964	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 20 December 2016
Vietnam	79,204	World Health Organization, 13 December 2016

Remarks:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
“ Locally-acquired
^ 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.

Greece: Avian Influenza, bird

In Greece, a mute swan in a natural park died of H5N8 avian influenza.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 23 December 2016)

 

Hong Kong: Avian Influenza, human (update)

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 22) reported an update on the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong this winter.

Among the 74 close contacts, a healthcare worker (HCW) of North District Hospital with mild symptoms reported yesterday (December 21) tested negative for influenza virus. Another HCW with mild symptoms is pending testing. Regarding the 151 other contacts, one relevant in-patient with mild symptoms tested negative for influenza virus.

The CHP is also closely monitoring a total of seven additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the Mainland (five cases in Anhui, one case in Shanghai and one case in Fujian) 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 Anhui Province, among the five patients, three were from Hefei (including one death), one was from Lu'an and one who died was from Xuancheng.

In addition, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning reported that the male patient aged 45 was from Nantong, Jiangsu. The case was classified as an imported case from Jiangsu. In Fujian, it was reported that the male patient aged 44 was from Xiamen.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 22 December 2016)

 

Bulgaria: Avian Influenza, poultry

First outbreaks of highly pathogenic (H5N8) avian influenza were discovered in farms in Manole, Vratsa and Novo Selo of Bulgaria.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 December 2016)

 

Israel: Avian Influenza, wild birds

Cases of highly pathogenic (H5N8) avian influenza were reported in Israel.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 December 2016)

 

Montenegro: Avian Influenza, wild birds

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) was first reported in the eastern part of Montenegro.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 21 December 2016)