Travel Health Service Year 2017

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	62^#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 12 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	965	Singapore National Environment Agency, 11 May 2017
Sri Lanka	43,915	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 9 May 2017
Taiwan	0”	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 11 May 2017
Thailand	9,717	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 9 May 2017
Vietnam	12,848	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.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola virus disease

The World Health Organisation was informed of a cluster of undiagnosed illness and deaths in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bordering Central African Republic. Nine suspected cases including three deaths have been reported. Of the five samples collected, one tested positive for Ebola virus. This was the eighth outbreak of Ebola virus disease since its discovery in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(Source: Disease outbreak news, World Health Organisation 13 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 23 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the Mainland, including seven deaths, were recorded from May 5 to 11, and strongly urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The 13 male and 10 female patients, aged 31 to 83, had onset from April 11 to May 6, of whom five were from Hebei; three each from Henan, Shaanxi and Sichuan; two each from Beijing and Jiangsu; and one each from Fujian, Gansu, Hubei, Tianjin and Zhejiang. Among them, 20 were known to have exposure to poultry, poultry markets or mobile stalls.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 12 May 2017)

Mainland: Zika Virus Infection

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring the first imported case of Zika Virus Infection in Jiangsu, and again urged the public to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures and safe sex during travel. Pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should not travel to Zika-affected areas.

The female patient, aged 28, returned from Ecuador and arrived at Jiangsu on April 28. She reported that she had developed symptoms including skin rash, fever, joint pain and conjunctivitis during the trip. The urine specimen of the patient tested positive for Zika virus. The patient has already been discharged from hospital.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 12 May 2017)

Nigeria: Meningococcal meningitis [Update]

At the end of April 2017, Nigeria has reported 9,646 suspected cases of meningococcal meningitis (serogroup C), including 839 deaths. This is the largest outbreak in the past 9 years.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 May 2017)

Portugal: Hepatitis A among MSM

Outbreaks of hepatitis A among men who have sex with men (MSM) were reported in Portugal. Since the beginning of 2017, 242 cases were registered.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 May 2017)