Travel Health Service Year 2017

Current Travel Health News

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.
of cases since 01/01/2016

Source of information and date of report

India

111,880

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 December 2016

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2017 *

 

Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2017

Source of information and date of report

Australia

411

World Health Organization, 25 April 2017

Brazil

70.843

World Health Organization, 20 April 2017

Cambodia

206

World Health Organization, 25 April 2017

Guangdong

20

Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 14 April 2017

Japan

61#

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 2 May 2017

Lao PDR

561

World Health Organization, 25 April 2017

Malaysia

27,405

World Health Organization, 25 April 2017

Mexico

8,222

World Health Organization, 20 April 2017

Philippines

26,433

World Health Organization, 25 April 2017

Singapore

917

Singapore National Environment Agency, 4 May 2017

Sri Lanka

40,264

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 2 May 2017

Taiwan

0”

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 4 May 2017

Thailand

9,229

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 3 May 2017

Vietnam

23,848

World Health Organization, 25 April 2017

Remarks:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
“ Locally-acquired
# Cumulative cases since 2 January 2017.

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.


Peru: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

So far this year, Peru reported 655 cases of Chikungunya fever.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 8 May2017)

 

Yemen: Cholera [Update]

There were around 27,000 cases of cholera in Yemen, including 130 deaths.

(Source: ProMED-mail 8 May 2017)

 

Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever [Update]

11 cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever were reported in Pakistan in 2017 so far.

(Source: ProMED-mail 8 May 2017)

 

USA: Measles

As of 22 April 2017, 61 cases of measles have been reported in the United States. There was a recent outbreak in Minnesota's Somali community.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 May 2017)

 

Pakistan: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

As of 19 April 2017, 1,962 suspected cases of Chikungunya fever were reported in Balochistan, Pakistan.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 May 2017)

 

Italy: Measles [Update]

From 1 January to 30 April 2017, 1,920 cases of measles have been reported in Italy. 88% of the cases were unvaccinated.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 May 2017)

 

South Africa: Measles [Update]

From January till March this year, there were 35 cases of measles in the Western Cape of South Africa.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 May 2017)

 

South Sudan: Measles

So far this year, 511 cases of measles were reported in South Sudan.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 May 2017)

 

Mainland: Avian influenza, human [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is monitoring notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission that 22 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including eight deaths, were recorded from April 28 to May 4, and strongly urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The 14 male and eight female patients, aged from 26 to 82, had onset from April 14 to 29, of whom seven were from Hebei, six from Sichuan, and one each from Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Gansu, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangsu. Among them, 17 were known to have exposure to poultry, poultry markets or mobile stalls.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 6 May 2017)

 

Niger: Hepatitis E [Update]

As of 3 May 2017, Niger reported 282 suspected cases of hepatitis E, including 27 deaths, in the Diffa Region.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 May 2017)

 

Mainland: Avian influenza, human [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring two human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the Mainland, 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 (HFPC) of Shaanxi Province, a male patient from Xianyang City, aged 62, has passed away. The case is the first human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Shaanxi. In addition, the Chongqing Municipal HFPC reported that a female patient from Dianjiang County, aged 25, has been hospitalised for treatment.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 4 May 2017)

 

Worldwide: Poliomyelitis [Update]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated the temporary recommendations regarding the international spread of poliovirus. States currently infected with wild poliovirus or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) with potential risk of international spread, i.e. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, 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.

(Source: World Health Organization 2 May 2017)