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

270

World Health Organization, 28 March 2019

Brazil

229,064

World Health Organization, 11 April 2019

Cambodia

1,330

World Health Organization, 28 February 2019

Guangdong, China

52

Health Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 March 2019

Japan

71^

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 9 April 2019

Lao PDR

1,143

World Health Organization, 28 March 2019

Malaysia

31,901

World Health Organization, 28 March 2019

Mexico

9,585

World Health Organization, 11 April 2019

The Philippines

48,634

World Health Organization, 28 March 2019

Singapore

2,423@

Singapore National Environment Agency, 11 April 2019

Sri Lanka

13,514

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 11 April 2019

Taiwan, China

1”

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 11 April 2019

Thailand

14,774

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 10 April 2019

Vietnam

44,404

World Health Organization, 28 March 2019

* Dengue reporting systems vary by country/area.
@Cumulative cases since 30 December 2018.
^ Cumulative cases since 31 December 2018.
” 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]

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 1,264, including 1,198 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 814.

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 130 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome since the beginning of 2019. Wadi-ad-Dasawir recorded 57 cases which were mostly associated with hospital-based outbreak.

 

The Philippines: Measles [Update]

The Philippines Department of Health has declared outbreak measles cases nationwide. During 1 January – 5 April 2019, a total of 28,362 cases have been reported across the country, including 389 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 April 2019)

 

Ukraine: Measles [Update]

Ukraine continues to report measles at high levels. From the beginning of this year to 4 April, 37,328 cases have been reported across the country, including 14 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 April 2019)

 

Madagascar: Measles [Update]

Since the onset of the outbreak in September 2018, as of 3 April 2019, a total of 122,840 measles cases have been reported in Madagascar, including 640 deaths in healthcare facilities.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 April 2019)

 

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

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 1,220, including 1,154 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 772.

 

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

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 1,206, including 1,140 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 764.

 

New Zealand: Measles [Update]

New Zealand health officials have declared measles outbreak recently. 72 cases have been confirmed across the country this year, with over half of the cases from Canterbury.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 April 2019)

 

Australia: Measles [Update]

Measles activity in Australia remains high. As of 5 April, 83 cases have been reported this year, compared with annual number of cases of 81 and 103 in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 April 2019)

 

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

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 1,186, including 1,120 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 751.

 

Mozambique: Cholera

Mozambique is experiencing cholera outbreak following flooding from Cyclone Idai on 14 March this year. As of 8 April, more than 3,577 cases and 6 deaths have been reported.

 

State of New Jersey, USA: Measles [Update]

USA New Jersey State health officials have declared measles outbreak on 15 March 2019. So far, 13 cases have been recorded this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 April 2019)

 

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

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 1,168, including 1,102 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 741.

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 126 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome since the beginning of 2019. Wadi-ad-Dasawir recorded 57 cases which were mostly associated with hospital-based outbreak.

 

State of New York, USA: Measles [Update]

USA New York State continues to report measles cases. Rockland County has reached 153 cases since September 2018. Brooklyn and Queens have reached 285 cases in total since October 2018. New York City health commissioner issued an order on 9 April 2019 ordering residents to vaccinate.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 April 2019)