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 01/01/2018 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2018	Source of information and date of report
Australia	486	World Health Organization, 16 August 2018
Brazil	181,807	World Health Organization, 23 August 2018
Cambodia	4,657	World Health Organization, 16 August 2018
Guangdong	121	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 14 August 2018
India	14,233	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 22 July 2018
Japan	84	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 21 August 2018
Lao PDR	3,428	World Health Organization, 16 August 2018
Macau	1”	Health Bureau of Macau, 19 June 2018
Malaysia	44,613	World Health Organization, 16 August 2018
Mexico	23,211	World Health Organization, 23 August 2018
Philippines	20,108	World Health Organization, 16 August 2018
Singapore	1,781^@	Singapore National Environment Agency, 23 August 2018
Sri Lanka	35,944	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 23 August 2018
Taiwan	33”	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 23 August 2018
Thailand	47,149	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 21 August 2018
Vietnam	39,692	World Health Organization, 16 August 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 Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

The current Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to develop and poses considerable regional risk. According to the DRC health ministry's daily update, the 111 Ebola cases include 83 confirmed and 28 probable cases. Also, health officials are investigating 10 suspected cases. The total number of deaths is 72.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 27 Aug 2018)

Republic of Congo: Yellow fever

The Congolese Ministry of Health and Population announced yesterday that as many as 70 suspected cases of yellow fever have been reported in southern Congo.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 27 August 2018)

Algeria: Cholera

Algerian health officials announced since early this month, there were 139 people hospitalized across the country for symptoms of cholera, 46 of which were confirmed cases, with 2 death cases.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 27 August 2018)

Afghanistan: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

At least 18 cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) infection have recently been detected in Afghanistan, taking this year's total cases to 267 compared to 244 cases last year.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 27 August 2018)

Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

The current Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to develop and poses considerable regional risk. According to the DRC health ministry's daily update, the 103 Ebola cases include 76 confirmed and 27 probable cases. Also, health officials are investigating 13 suspected cases. The total number of deaths is 63.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 24 Aug 2018)

Uganda: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

The Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) reported Saturday that a 32-year old female died in capital Kampala as a result of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 26 August 2018)

Israel: West Nile virus infection

Israeli health officials said 68 cases of West Nile virus infection have been reported this year -- twice as much as last year, with 2 death cases.

(Source: Pro-MED Mail 24 Aug 2018)

Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

The current Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC) continues to develop and poses considerable regional risk. According to the DRC health ministry's daily update, the 103 Ebola cases include 76 confirmed and 27 probable cases. Also, health officials are investigating 7 suspected cases. The total number of deaths is 61.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 23 Aug 2018)

United Kingdom: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

A person who flew via Saudi Arabian Airlines last week to the United Kingdom is infected with MERS-CoV, the first such case in England in 5 years.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 23 Aug 2018)

Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

The current Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC) continues to develop and poses considerable regional risk. According to the DRC health ministry's daily update, the 102 Ebola cases include 75 confirmed and 27 probable cases. Also, health officials are investigating 9 suspected cases. The total number of deaths is 59.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 22 Aug 2018)

Malaysia: Rabies [Update]

The Malaysian Ministry of Health announced one new human rabies fatality case in Sarawak. This is the 12th human fatality case since 2017 Summer.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 Aug 2018)

Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]

The current Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC) continues to develop and poses considerable regional risk. According to the DRC health ministry's daily update, the 96 Ebola cases include 69 confirmed and 27 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 55.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 21 Aug 2018)

Zimbabwe : Typhoid Fever [Update]

In a typhoid outbreak in Gweru, the 3rd largest city of Zimbabwe, since July 2018, The Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care reports a total of 1,460 suspected cases, including eight deaths. This outbreak is being attributed to burst sewer pipes, which are believed to have contaminated boreholes, the main source of potable water for the community in the city.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 Aug 2018)