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, 28 February 2017 |
Vietnam |
122,020 |
World Health Organization, 28 February 2017 |
Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2017 *
|
Cumulative reported no. |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
202 |
World Health Organization, 28 February 2017 |
Cambodia |
95 |
World Health Organization, 28 February 2017 |
Guangdong |
6 |
Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 14 February 2017 |
Japan |
27# |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 28 February 2017 |
Lao PDR |
390 |
World Health Organization, 28 February 2017 |
Malaysia |
12,576 |
World Health Organization, 28 February 2017 |
Mexico |
3,468 |
World Health Organization, 27 February 2017 |
Singapore |
568 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 2 March 2017 |
Sri Lanka |
17,663 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 2 March 2017 |
Taiwan |
0” |
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 2 March 2017 |
Thailand |
4,834 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 1 March 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.
As of 3 March 2017, yellow fever virus transmission continues to expand towards the Atlantic coast of Brazil.
Taking into account the situation in Espírito Santo State, the World Health Organization has determined that the State of Espírito Santo in its entirety should be considered at risk for yellow fever transmission. Therefore, vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for international travellers visiting any area in Espírito Santo State.
The current advice for international travellers going to areas of Brazil deemed to be at risk, including Espírito Santo State in its entirety, is the following:
- Vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days prior to the travel. Travellers with contraindications for yellow fever vaccine (children below 9 months, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with severe hypersensitivity to egg antigens, and severe immunodeficiency) or over 60 years of age should consult their health professional for advice;
- Adoption of measures to avoid mosquito bites;
- Awareness of symptoms and signs of yellow fever;
- Seeking care in case of symptoms and signs of yellow fever, while travelling and upon return from areas at risk for yellow fever transmission.
(Source: World Health Organization 6 March 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 Guangxi, 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 Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the two confirmed patients were from Baise City and Wuzhou City and are currently in critical condition.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 6 March 2017)
Detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7) was reported in Tennessee, USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 March 2017)
Australia: Ross River Virus [Update]
More than 200 cases of Ross River Virus were reported in West Australia this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 March 2017)
A fatal case of yellow fever was reported in Peru. The patient was unvaccinated against yellow fever.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4 March 2017)
Thailand: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
A total of 6,790 Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases were reported in Thailand from 1 January to 14 February this year. Most patient were children under 5.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 March 2017)
Vietnam: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
So far this year, 5,252 cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease were reported in Vietnam.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 March 2017)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission that 21 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including three deaths, were recorded from February 24 to March 2. The CHP strongly urges the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The 17 male and four female patients, aged from 10 to 77, had their onset from February 10 to 27. The cases were from Guangdong (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Jiangsu (three cases), two cases each in Guangxi and Jiangxi, and one case each in Hubei, Hunan, Shanghai and Zhejiang. Among them, 18 were known to have exposure to poultry or poultry markets.
Of note, according to the surveillance of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from February 22 to 28, among 855 environmental samples collected from 89 markets in various areas in Guangdong, 83 samples from 27 markets tested positive for H7 virus, i.e. about 30 per cent of the markets in Guangdong and 9.7 per cent of the samples were positive.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 3 March 2017)
Belgium: Avian influenza, wild birds [Update]
More cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) were reported in Belgium.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 2 March 2017)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Avian influenza, wild birds [Update]
More cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) were reported in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 2 March 2017)
Two fatal cases of Lassa fever were reported in Benin.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 March 2017)
Serbia: Avian Influenza, wild bird
Serbia reported its first case of highly pathogenic H5N5 avian influenza.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 1 March 2017)
Slovenia: Avian Influenza, wild birds
Slovenia reported its first cases of highly pathogenic H5N5 avian influenza.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 1 March 2017)