Travel Health Service Year 2017

Current Travel Health News

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 01/01/2017 *

 

Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2017

Source of information and date of report

Brazil

219,040

World Health Organization, 27 October 2017

Cambodia

3,216

World Health Organization, 16 January 2018

Guangdong

1,752

Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 January 2018

India

157,220

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 24 December 2017

Macau

6"

Health Bureau of Macau, 27 October 2017

Mexico

58,697

World Health Organization, 27 October 2017

Philippines

131,827

World Health Organization, 16 January 2018

Vietnam

184,741

World Health Organization, 16 January 2018

Remarks:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
“ Locally-acquired
# Cumulative cases since 2 January 2017.

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2018 *

Australia

8

World Health Organization, 16 January 2018

Japan

3

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 23 January 2018

Lao PDR

17

World Health Organization, 16 January 2018

Malaysia

1,034@

World Health Organization, 16 January 2018

Singapore

240@

Singapore National Environment Agency, 25 January 2018

Sri Lanka

4,924

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 25 January 2018

Taiwan

0”

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 25 January 2018

Thailand

792

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 24 January 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.


Liberia: Lassa Fever

Lassa fever is endemic in Liberia, and since the beginning of 2017 to 23 Jan 2018, 91 suspected cases have been reported.

(Source: The World Health Organization 29 January 2018)

 

USA: Hepatitis A [Update]

In Michigan, Utah and California (San Diego County) states, USA, the outbreak of hepatitis A continues.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 January 2018)

 

Brazil: Yellow Fever [Update]

Between 1 Jul 2017 and 23 Jan 2018, 130 confirmed cases of yellow fever with 53 deaths were recorded in Brazil.

(Source: ProMED-mail 27 January 2018)

 

Democratic Republic of Congo: Cholera

Democratic Republic of Congo has reported the cholera epidemic in the capital city of Kinshasa recently. There were 725 suspected cases of cholera including 32 deaths registered in Kinshasa.

(Source: ProMED-mail 27 January 2018)

 

Netherlands: Avian Influenza, wild birds

The Netherlands has reported three more highly pathogenic H5N6 outbreaks in wild birds of three different states from December 18 to January 1.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 26 January 2018)

 

Afghanistan: poliomyelitis

Afghanistan has reported its first polio case of 2018, a new case of wild poliovirus type 1, in Nangarhar province. One new wild poliovirus type 1 environmental sample was also reported last week from Kandahar province.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 26 January 2018)

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Saudi Arabia has reported 20 more cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus between December 9, 2017 and January 17, including 8 deaths. Five patients of the 20 had direct or indirect contact with camels, and three patients had consumed camel milk.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 26 January 2018)

 

USA: Influenza [Update]

Health officials of USA have claimed the activity of influenza outbreak at the highest level recorded since the 2009 pandemic. Thirty-seven children have died of flu and around 12,000 patients have been admitted to hospital nationwide.

(Source: BBC News 26 January 2018)

 

Chile: Q fever

Chile has emerged Q fever outbreak among dairy workers in Osorno since last year. There were 167 cases classified as “suspicious and compatible with Q fever”, and 32 confirmed cases were recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 January 2018)

 

United Kingdom: Avian Influenza, wild birds

The United Kingdom reported a highly pathogenic H5N6 avian flu outbreak in wild birds of Hertfordshire.

(Source: ProMED-mail 25 January 2018)

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health reported a new case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Ha'il. Saudi Arabia has reported 1,778 MERS-CoV cases since 2012, including 726 deaths.

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

 

Gambia: Rift Valley Fever

A resident of the Gambia was diagnosed having Rift Valley Fever in Senegal. The case had been travelling to Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau before onset of symptoms.

(Source: The World Health Organization 23 January 2018)