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 01/01/2019 *
|
Cumulative reported no. |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
1,325 |
World Health Organization, 5 December 2019 |
Brazil |
2,120,142 |
World Health Organization, 5 December 2019 |
Guangdong, China |
5,315 |
Health Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 November 2019 |
India |
91,457 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 October 2019 |
Japan |
433^ |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 3 December 2019 |
Lao PDR |
38,026 |
World Health Organization, 5 December 2019 |
Malaysia |
119,524 |
World Health Organization, 5 December 2019 |
Mexico |
251,445 |
World Health Organization, 5 December 2019 |
The Philippines |
402,694 |
World Health Organization, 5 December 2019 |
Singapore |
15,139@ |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 5 December 2019 |
Sri Lanka |
83,365 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 5 December 2019 |
Taiwan, China |
611 |
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, 5 December 2019 |
Thailand |
121,696 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 4 December 2019 |
Vietnam |
241,863 |
World Health Organization, 5 December 2019 |
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country/area.
@Cumulative cases since 30 December 2018.
^ Cumulative cases since 31 December 2018.
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]
10 December 2019
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles [Update]
10 December 2019
10 December 2019
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
9 December 2019
Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
9 December 2019
According to the WHO, of the additional cases, 12 were male patients and three were female patients, with ages from 26 to 94. Among them, three had exposure to camels and consumed camel milk, and two were health care workers who had contact with previously confirmed patients. Twelve had underlying illnesses and six have passed away.
According to the latest information, 2,484 cases have been reported to the WHO (with 857 deaths), including 2,265 in 10 Middle East countries comprising 2,092 in Saudi Arabia, 88 in the United Arab Emirates, 28 in Jordan, 24 in Oman, 19 in Qatar, six in Iran, four Kuwait, two in Lebanon, and one each in Yemen and Bahrain.
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
9 December 2019
9 December 2019
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
6 December 2019
Sri Lanka: Dengue Fever [Update]
6 December 2019
5 December 2019
5 December 2019
Myanmar: Dengue fever [Update]
5 December 2019
5 December 2019
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
4 December 2019
4 December 2019
Thailand: Chikungunya fever [Update]
4 December 2019
The Philippines: Dengue fever [Update]
4 December 2019
Thailand: Dengue Fever [Update]
4 December 2019
Malaysia: Dengue fever [Update]
4 December 2019