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 |
1,452,284 |
World Health Organization, 12 December 2016 |
Cambodia |
1,771 |
World Health Organization, 13 December 2016 |
Guangdong |
545 |
Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 5 January 2017 |
India |
111,880 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 December 2016 |
Lao PDR |
5,617 |
World Health Organization, 17 January |
Mexico |
124,580 |
World Health Organization, 12 December 2016 |
Philippines |
176,411 |
World Health Organization, 17 January |
Vietnam |
110,854 |
World Health Organization, 17 January |
Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2017 *
|
Cumulative reported no. |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
22 |
World Health Organization, 17 January 2017 |
Japan |
8# |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 24 January 2017 |
Malaysia |
3,566 |
World Health Organization, 17 January 2017 |
Singapore |
290 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 26 January 2017 |
Sri Lanka |
5,295 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 25 January 2017 |
Taiwan |
0” |
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 26 January 2017 |
Thailand |
1,454 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 24 January 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.
Macedonia: Avian Influenza, poultry
Birds in a farm in Struga, Macedonia, were tested positive for H5N8 avian influenza.
(Source: OIE 30 January 2017)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring nine additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including two deaths, reported to the World Health Organization by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks in the places they visit.
The patients are four men and five women aged from 56 to 88 (median age: 70). Among them, seven have underlying illnesses, one had contact with camels and consumed camel milk, and one had contact with a previously confirmed patient. Of note, five of the patients are part of a small outbreak involving two hospitals. In addition, two previously confirmed patients died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 27 January 2017)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Shandong and Hubei, 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 Shandong Province, the patient is a 59-year-old man from Qingdao city.
The Health and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province reported that the two patients comprise a man aged 65 from Huangmei County and a woman aged 78 from Hanchuan city. Both were in critical condition.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 26 January 2017)
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health drew the public's attention to increased activity of norovirus in Hong Kong and overseas and neighbouring areas in recent months, and hence reminded travellers during the Lunar New Year to maintain strict personal, hand, food and environmental hygiene.
Locally, the CHP's laboratory surveillance has revealed high norovirus activity since the autumn months. CHP also noted elevated norovirus activity in Guangdong, Taiwan, Japan and the United Kingdom in recent months. Members of the public should stay alert during travel.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 26 January 2017)
Four states in Brazil, namely Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Bahia and Sao Paulo continue to report suspected cases of yellow fever.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 January 2017)
The influenza activity in the northern hemisphere continue to increase, with influenza A(H3N2) virus predominating.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 January 2017)
Germany: Avian influenza, wild birds and poultry (new strain)
Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N5) have been reported in Germany.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 January 2017)
As of 11 January 2017, 15,658 suspected cholera cases were reported in 156 districts in Yemen.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 January 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 Henan, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The Health and Family Planning Commission of Henan Province reported that two male patients, aged 59 and 36, have passed away. They were from Luohe and Yongcheng respectively.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 25 January 2017)
Hong Kong: Mad honey poisoning (honey from Nepal)
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is investigating a case of mad honey poisoning, and reminded the public to buy honey from a reliable source or apiary.
The male patient, aged 61 with underlying illness, developed generalised weakness, numbness, chills and shortness of breath around 45 minutes after consuming honey alone at home on January 18. He attended a local hospital and was admitted for observation and treatment in the small hours of January 19. The patient was discharged on the same day in stable condition. Grayanotoxin was detected in the patient's urine sample and the honey remnant upon testing, which matches with the clinical diagnosis, grayanotoxin poisoning.
Initial enquiries revealed that the honey was brought from Nepal by his friend. Travellers to areas such as the Black Sea region of Turkey, North America, Korea, Japan, Nepal and New Zealand should pay special attention as there have been reported cases of grayanotoxin poisoning which were attributed to honey from these areas.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 24 January 2017)
421 suspected cases of yellow fever were reported in Brazil. Most cases are from Minas Gerais state, while Espirito Santo, Bahia and Sao Paulo state are also investigating suspected cases.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 24 January 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 Hunan, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
According to the Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a female patient, aged 37 from Yueyang City who was exposed to poultry, is in critical condition.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 24 January 2017)
Italy: Avian Influenza, poultry
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) were reported in Italy.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 January 2017)