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	952	World Health Organization, 17 May 2016
Brazil	802,429	World Health Organization, 13 May 2016
Cambodia	663	World Health Organization, 17 May 2016
Guangdong	39	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 13 May 2016
India	3,962	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 April 2016
Japan	128#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 24 May 2016
Lao PDR	442	World Health Organization, 17 May 2016
Mexico	22,805	World Health Organization, 13 May 2016
Philippines	18,790	World Health Organization, 17 May 2016
Singapore	8,063^	Singapore National Environment Agency, 26 May 2016
Sri Lanka	17,466	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 26 May 2016
Taiwan	372	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 26 May 2016
Thailand	17,614	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 24 May 2016
Vietnam	16,967	World Health Organization, 17 May 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.

Mainland: Zika virus infection

On 29 May 2016, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health received notification of an additional imported case of Zika virus infection in Beijing from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The male patient aged 31 developed fever in Venezuela and then returned to Beijing with skin rash.

To date, 20 imported cases of Zika virus infection have been notified in the Mainland.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 29 May 2016)

 

Bangladesh: Anthrax

In Sirajganj District,Bangladesh, the total number of human anthrax cases reported has topped 100 in the past month. The outbreak has been linked to the slaughter and consumption of anthrax infected animals.

(Source: ProMED-mail 27 May 2016)

 

Nigeria: Lassa fever [Update]

Between August 2015 and 17 May 2016, WHO has been notified of 273 cases of Lassa fever, including 149 deaths in Nigeria. The cases were reported from 23 states in Nigeria.

(Source: World Health Organization 27 May 2016)

 

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

On 26 May 2016, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health received notification of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The case involves a male patient aged 63 who lives in Meizhou, Guangdong.

(A(H7N9) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The case involves a male patient aged 63 who lives in Meizhou, Guangdong.)

 

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 26 May 2016)