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 |
1,579 |
World Health Organization, 23 August 2016 |
Brazil |
1,426,005 |
World Health Organization, 26 August 2016 |
Cambodia |
1,771 |
World Health Organization, 23 August 2016 |
Guangdong |
132 |
Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 30 August 2016 |
India |
15,099 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 July 2016 |
Japan |
209# |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 30 August 2016 |
Lao PDR |
2,719 |
World Health Organization, 23 August 2016 |
Mexico |
56,701 |
World Health Organization, 26 August 2016 |
Philippines |
84,085 |
World Health Organization, 23 August 2016 |
Singapore |
11,153^ |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 31 August 2016 |
Sri Lanka |
37,977 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 31 August 2016 |
Taiwan |
376 |
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 31 August 2016 |
Thailand |
35,872 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 31 August 2016 |
Vietnam |
36,639 |
World Health Organization, 23 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.
Nigeria: Poliomyelitis [Update]
The third case of poliomyelitis was reported in Nigeria.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 September 2016)
A fatal case of Japanese encephalitis was reported in Saptari, Nepal.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 September 2016)
Cyprus: West Nile Virus Infection
The first case of West Nile Virus infection was reported in Cyprus.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4 September 2016)
Malaysia: Zika virus infection
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring the first local case of Zika virus infection in Malaysia.
According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the male patient aged 61, who lives in Sabah, Malaysia, had no recent travel history and was likely a local case of Zika Virus Infection. The man passed away on September 3 due to other illness.
As of 31 August 2016, the number of hepatitis A cases in Hawaii, USA has reached 241. Majority of the cases had eaten imported frozen scallops, served raw.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 September 2016)
In the last 4 months, 43 cases of Japanese encephalitis were reported in Tripura, India.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 September 2016)
As of 2 September 2016, 70 cases of hepatitis A were reported in seven states of USA. Majority of the cases had eaten imported frozen strawberries.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 2 September 2016)
Singapore: Zika virus infection [Update]
Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy should not travel to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. Travellers should seek medical advice before the trip and avoid mosquito bites during the trip.
USA: Zika virus infection [Update]
In the United States, according to the Florida Department of Health, apart from Miami-Dade County and Pinellas County confirmed with local cases, local cases were also reported in Palm Beach County. To date, 569 imported and 47 local cases have been recorded in Florida.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 1 September 2016)
Singapore: Zika virus infection [Update]
Regarding the latest situation in Singapore, a spokesman for the CHP said, "We are concerned about emerging local Zika cases in Singapore as well as the speed of local spread and possible importation to neighbouring areas. We are closely monitoring the additional cases and are communicating with the Ministry of Health of Singapore for more information.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 1 September 2016)
An additional confirmed case of cholera was reported in South Korea.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 September 2016)
Spain: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
Two autochthonous cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever were reported in Spain.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 September 2016)
South Korea: Japanese Encephalitis
A case of Japanese encephalitis was reported in South Korea. This is the first case in 2016.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 September 2016)
In past one week, 17 new cases of scrub typhus have been reported in Chitwan, Nepal.
(Source: ProMED-mail 31 August 2016)
A case of hantavirus infection was reported in Los Santos province in Panama.
(Source: ProMED-mail 31 August 2016)
Mainland: Avian influenza, poultry
An outbreak of H5N6 avian influenza was reported among poultry in Guizhou province, China.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 31 August 2016)
An outbreak of H5N2 avian influenza was reported in wild ducks in Alaska, USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 August 2016)
So far, at least 176 cases of scrub typhus, including 5 deaths, have been reported in Nepal.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 August 2016)