Travel Health Service Year 2019

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	203	World Health Organization, 14 March 2019
Brazil	185,934	World Health Organization, 21 March 2019
Cambodia	1,330	World Health Organization, 28 February 2019
Guangdong, China	52	Health Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 March 2019
Japan	57^{^}	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 19 March 2019
Lao PDR	978	World Health Organization, 14 March 2019
Malaysia	26,545	World Health Organization, 14 March 2019
Mexico	7,131	World Health Organization, 21 March 2019
The Philippines	36,664	World Health Organization, 14 March 2019
Singapore	2,088^@	Singapore National Environment Agency, 21 March 2019
Sri Lanka	11,280	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 21 March 2019
Taiwan, China	1”	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 21 March 2019
Thailand	11,194	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 19 March 2019
Vietnam	38,122	World Health Organization, 14 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.

Madagascar: Measles [Update]

Since the onset of the outbreak in September 2018, a total of 117,075 measles cases have been reported in Madagascar.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 March 2019)

Nigeria: Lassa fever [Update]

Nigeria health officials reported 23 new confirmed Lassa fever cases in the past week, bringing the outbreak total to 495 confirmed positive since the beginning of the year.

The new case were reported from the following nine states: – Edo(8), Ondo(4), Ebonyi(3), Bauchi(3), Taraba(1), Imo(1), Enugu(1), Benue(1) and Kebbi(1).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 March 2019)

Japan: Measles, rubella and pertussis

In Japan, the outbreak of measles,rubella and pertussis cases are high so far in 2019. Officials have reported 304 measles, 860 rubella and 2,989 pertussis cases since the beginning of the year.

Concerning measles, officials report the current outbreak has comparatively increased faster than the cases identified during Okinawa outbreak in April 2018.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 March 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 1,009, including 944 confirmed and 65 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 629.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 March 2019)

The Philippines: Typhoid fever

The Philippines Department of Health has reported increased typhoid cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region on northern Luzon Island. 681 cases were recorded in the first quarter this year compared to 289 cases recorded in the same period of time last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 23 March 2019)

The Philippines: Measles [Update]

The Philippines Department of Health has declared outbreak measles cases nationwide. During 1 January – 19 March 2019, a total of 22,967 cases have been reported across the country, including 333 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 March 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 991, including 926 confirmed and 65 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 614.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 21 March 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 980. The total number of deaths is 606.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 20 March 2019)

New Zealand: Measles [Update]

New Zealand health officials have declared measles outbreak recently. 30 cases have been confirmed in Canterbury.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 March 2019)

Ireland: Measles [Update]

Ireland health officials have declared outbreak measles cases in capital Dublin. 10 cases have been recorded since February this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 March 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 968, including 903 confirmed and 65 probable cases. The total number of deaths is 606.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 19 March 2019)

State of New York, USA: Measles [Update]

USA New York State continues to report measles cases. Brooklyn and Queens have reached 181 cases in total since October 2018.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 March 2019)

Madagascar: Measles [Update]

Since the onset of the outbreak in September 2018, a total of 105,170 measles cases have been reported in Madagascar, including 1,201 reported cases of deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 March 2019)

Venezuela: Diphtheria

Venezuela continues to report diphtheria cases since the start of an outbreak in July 2016. 164 cases have been reported this year as of February.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 March 2019)