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 |
Brazil |
1,496,282 |
World Health Organization, 6 February 2017 |
India |
111,880 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 December 2016 |
Philippines |
176,411 |
World Health Organization, 14 February 2017 |
Vietnam |
122,020 |
World Health Organization, 14 February 2017 |
Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2017 *
|
Cumulative reported no. |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
143 |
World Health Organization, 14 February 2017 |
Cambodia |
81 |
World Health Organization, 14 February 2017 |
Guangdong |
6 |
Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 14 February 2017 |
Japan |
25# |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 21 February 2017 |
Lao PDR |
283 |
World Health Organization, 14 February 2017 |
Malaysia |
9,000 |
World Health Organization, 14 February 2017 |
Mexico |
2,931 |
World Health Organization, 21 February 2017 |
Singapore |
522 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 23 February 2017 |
Sri Lanka |
15,928 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 23 February 2017 |
Taiwan |
0” |
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 23 February 2017 |
Thailand |
4,058 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 21 February 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.
Egypt reported 2 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, one of them fatal.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 27 February 2017)
Pakistan: Chikungunya fever [Update]
Pakistan reported 803 cases of chikungunya fever since 19 December 2016.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 27 February 2017)
Brazil reported 3,754 cases of Chikungunya fever in the first 4 weeks of 2017.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 27 February 2017)
Lithuania: Avian Influenza, wild birds
Lithuania reported its first cases of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 27 February 2017)
Nepal: Avian Influenza, poultry
Nepal reported its first outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza since 2014.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 27 February 2017)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health received notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission that 28 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including four deaths, were recorded from February 13 to 23. The CHP strongly urges the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The 22 male and six female patients aged from four to 81 had their onset from January 27 to February 17. The cases were from Anhui (five cases), Guangdong (five cases), Jiangsu (four cases), Zhejiang (four cases), Henan (three cases), Hunan (two cases), Jiangxi (two cases), and one case each in Fujian, Hubei and Shandong. Among them, 17 reported exposure to poultry or poultry markets.
In addition, the CHP is closely monitoring one additional human H7N9 case reported in Guangxi. According to the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a patient in Pingle County with exposure to poultry has died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 25 February 2017)
Four fatal cases of Lassa fever were reported in Bauchi state of Nigeria.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 February 2017)
Ireland: Avian Influenza, wild birds [Update]
More cases of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza were reported in Ireland.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 February 2017)
From 1 December 2016 to 22 February 2017, a total of 1,336 cases of yellow fever, including 215 deaths, have been detected in six states of Brazil.
Advice to travellers planning to visit areas at risk for yellow fever transmission in Brazil includes vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days prior to the travel; observation of measures to avoid mosquito bites.
WHO does not recommend restriction of travel and trade with Brazil.
(Source: World Health Organization 24 February 2017)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guizhou, 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 Guizhou Province, the patient, aged 51, in Qiandongnan, had live poultry contact before onset.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 23 February 2017)
Spain: Avian influenza, poultry
First detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) was reported in Spain.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 23 February 2017)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Sichuan, 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 Sichuan Province, two patients were confirmed in Guang'an. Both had live poultry exposure before onset.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 22 February 2017)
The Brazilian government has issued emergency situations for 63 cities in Minas Gerais, and one in Espirito Santo due to the outbreak of yellow fever.
In view of the ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Brazil, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has earlier issued a Level 2 Alert.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2017)
A total of 18,973 cholera cases were reported in Yemen. 99 people have died.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 22 February 2017)
South Africa: Measles [Update]
Nine cases of measles have been confirmed in South Africa. All patients have been treated and are recovering. The health department has vaccinated 15,500 children against measles in Stellenbosch this month.
(Source: ProMED-mail 21 February 2017)