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

333

World Health Organization, 11 April 2019

Brazil

439,432

World Health Organization, 17 April 2019

Cambodia

1,330

World Health Organization, 28 February 2019

Guangdong, China

63

Health Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 April 2019

Japan

78^

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 16 April 2019

Lao PDR

1,143

World Health Organization, 11 April 2019

Malaysia

36,285

World Health Organization, 11 April 2019

Mexico

10,581

World Health Organization, 17 April 2019

The Philippines

55,976

World Health Organization, 11 April 2019

Singapore

2,538@

Singapore National Environment Agency, 17 April 2019

Sri Lanka

13,807

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 17 April 2019

Taiwan, China

1”

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 17 April 2019

Thailand

14,774

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 10 April 2019

Vietnam

48,647

World Health Organization, 11 April 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 1,340, including 1,274 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 874.

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 134 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.

 

Ukraine: Measles [Update]

Ukraine continues to report measles at high levels. From the beginning of this year to 13 April, 39,549 cases have been reported across the country, including 14 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 April 2019)

 

Japan: Measles and rubella [Update]

In Japan , the outbreak of measles and rubella cases is continuing in 2019. Officials have reported 382 measles and 1200 rubella cases since the beginning of the year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 April 2019)

 

State of California, USA: Measles [Update]

USA California State has reported measles outbreak. 23 cases have been recorded this year as of 17 April.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 April 2019)

 

State of Michigan, USA: Measles [Update]

USA Michigan State has reported measles outbreak. 43 cases have been recorded since 13 March 2019, 40 from Oakland County, one from Washtenaw County, one from Wayne County and one from city of Detroit.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 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 1,290, including 1,224 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 833.

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 131 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 190 cases since September 2018. Brooklyn and Queens have reached 329 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 17 April 2019)

 

Mozambique: Malaria

Mozambique is experiencing malaria outbreak following flooding from Cyclone Idai on 14 March this year. Between 27 March and 15 April, 10,689 cases have been reported.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 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 1,273, including 1,207 confirmed and 66 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 821.