Travel Health Service Year 2018

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 01/01/2018 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2018	Source of information and date of report
Australia	597	World Health Organization, 25 October 2018
Brazil	215,585	World Health Organization, 8 November 2018
Cambodia	7,622	World Health Organization, 25 October 2018
Guangdong, China	1,389	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 October 2018
India	40,868	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 September 2018
Japan	157	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 6 November 2018
Lao PDR	5,300	World Health Organization, 25 October 2018
Macao, China	5”	Health Bureau of Macau, 6 November 2018
Malaysia	58,155	World Health Organization, 25 October 2018
Mexico	58,685	World Health Organization, 8 November 2018
Philippines	106,386	World Health Organization, 11 October 2018
Singapore	2,457^@	Singapore National Environment Agency, 8 November 2018
Sri Lanka	41,916	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 8 November 2018
Taiwan, China	174”	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 8 November 2018
Thailand	71,976	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 7 November 2018
Vietnam	77,355	World Health Organization, 25 October 2018

* Dengue reporting systems vary by country/area.
@ Cumulative cases since 31 December 2017.
“ Locally-acquired

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 [Update]

According to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s update on Ebola Virus Disease, the number of cases has now reached 334. The total number of deaths is 206.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 12 November 2018)

Thailand: Measles [Update]

More than 1500 people have contracted measles in southern Thailand since the outbreak began in September, including 14 deaths.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 12 November 2018)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

According to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s update on Ebola Virus Disease, the number of cases has now reached 319. The total number of deaths is 198.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 9 November 2018)

Hong Kong, China: Hepatitis A infection

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health is closely monitoring 14 cases of Hepatitis A virus infection between October 1 and November 8, 2018, and again urged the public to stay alert and maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene.

Among the 14 cases, 8 males and 6 females aged between 9 and 54 were affected. 4 cases were imported from Pakistan and another 3 affected Pakistanis (one local case and two cases with place of infection undetermined). The remaining 7 cases included 5 local cases, one imported case from Bangladesh and one case with place of infection undetermined. All cases required hospitalization and were in a stable condition.

Press release: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201811/09/P2018110900750.htm

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 9 November 2018)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

According to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s update on Ebola Virus Disease, the number of cases has now reached 312. The total number of deaths is 191.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 8 November 2018)

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) confirmed 3 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome since 1 November 2018, 2 of which are community-acquired cases and the remaining one is a household contact of a previously confirmed case.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 8 November 2018)

Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

4 new cases of poliomyelitis were reported in Pakistan this week, bringing the total number of cases to 10 this year.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 8 November 2018)

Yemen: Cholera [Update]

Yemen reported 242,849 suspected cholera cases and 246 associated deaths since January this year.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 8 November 2018)

China：Avian Influenza [Update]

A case of H5N6 Avian Influenza was reported in Guangxi in late October this year, in which the patient had contact with live poultry before symptom onset on 18 October, and later died on 27 October. It is the second human case of H5N6 Avian Influenza recorded in Guangxi since months ago.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 8 November 2018)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

According to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s update on Ebola Virus Disease, the number of cases has now reached 308. The total number of deaths is 191.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 7 November 2018)

United States: Measles [Update]

There are currently 47 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland with 10 suspected cases under investigation.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 November 2018)