Travel Health Service Year 2019

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 01/01/2019 *

 

Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2019

Source of information and date of report

Australia

1,150

World Health Organization, 24 October 2019

Brazil

2,070,170

World Health Organization, 7 November 2019

Guangdong, China

3,435

Health Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 October 2019

India

50,903

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 September 2019

Japan

400^

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 5 November 2019

Lao PDR

33,728

World Health Organization, 24 October 2019

Malaysia

104,746

World Health Organization, 24 October 2019

Mexico

198,985

World Health Organization, 7 November 2019

The Philippines

348,893

World Health Organization, 24 October 2019

Singapore

13,853@

Singapore National Environment Agency, 7 November 2019

Sri Lanka

65,516

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 6 November 2019

Taiwan, China

561

Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, 7 November 2019

Thailand

108,005

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 30 October 2019

Vietnam

124,751

World Health Organization, 24 October 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]

12 November 2019

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,287 and the total number of deaths is 2,192. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern on 17 July 2019. For more information on Ebola virus disease, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/34199.html

 

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles [Update]

12 November 2019

Measles activity in Democratic Republic of the Congo remains high. 233,337 cases have been reported this year as of 27 October, including 4,723 deaths. For more information on measles, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/100419.html

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 November 2019)

 

Malaysia: Rabies [Update]

12 November 2019

The Malaysia Ministry of Health announced that the latest rabies outbreak in Sarawak since July 2017 has reached 22 confirmed cases, including 21 deaths. The latest fatal case was recorded on 2 November this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 November 2019)

 

New Zealand: Measles [Update]

12 November 2019

New Zealand national measles outbreak continues, with 2,014 cases reported so far in 2019. Auckland health officials are officially reported 1,631 confirmed cases. New Zealand Ministry of Health advises travelers to Auckland to receive vaccinations against measles at least two weeks before departure. For more information on measles, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/100419.html

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 November 2019)
(Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health 12 November 2019)

 

Thailand: Chikungunya fever [Update]

11 November 2019

Thailand health officials reported continuous Chikungunya fever outbreak activity, especially in southern provinces of Pattani, Ranong, Phuket, Tak and Songkhla. 9,085 cases have been reported in 56 of the 76 provinces this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 November 2019)

 

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

8 November 2019

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,286 and the total number of deaths is 2,191. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern on 17 July 2019. For more information on Ebola virus disease, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/34199.html

 

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

8 November 2019

Singapore dengue fever activity remains significant. 13,853 cases were recorded this year, including 18 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 November 2019)

 

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

7 November 2019

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,285 and the total number of deaths is 2,187. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern on 17 July 2019. For more information on Ebola virus disease, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/34199.html

 

The Philippines: Poliomyelitis [Update]

7 November 2019

The Philippines Department of Health has reported four cases of poliomyelitis since being declared polio-free by the World Health Organization in 2000. An outbreak has been declared.

 

Pakistan: Dengue fever

7 November 2019

Pakistan has recorded high dengue fever activity this year. 44,000 cases including 66 deaths have been reported this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 November 2019)

 

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

6 November 2019

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,282 and the total number of deaths is 2,185. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern on 17 July 2019. For more information on Ebola virus disease, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/34199.html

 

The Philippines: Dengue fever [Update]

6 November 2019

The Philippines Department of Health has declared a National dengue fever alert on 15 July 2019. As of 19 October, 371,717 dengue cases, including 1,407 deaths have been recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 November 2019)

 

Indonesia: Dengue fever

6 November 2019

Indonesia Department of Health is experiencing persistent dengue fever activity this year. As of October, 110,921 cases have been recorded, with the majority coming from Java, Bali and Sumatra.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 November 2019)

 

Pakistan: Rabies

6 November 2019

Pakistan recorded 20 human cases of death from rabies in Sindh province, with the latest case being unable to find post-exposure immunizations in local hospitals after being infected.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 November 2019)