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

429

World Health Organization, 9 May 2019

Brazil

586,569

World Health Organization, 23 May 2019

Cambodia

1,330

World Health Organization, 28 February 2019

Guangdong, China

105

Health Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 May 2019

Japan

108^

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 21 May 2019

Lao PDR

2,405

World Health Organization, 9 May 2019

Malaysia

43,065

World Health Organization, 9 May 2019

Mexico

12,900

World Health Organization, 23 May 2019

The Philippines

67,106

World Health Organization, 9 May 2019

Singapore

3,789@

Singapore National Environment Agency, 23 May 2019

Sri Lanka

17,942

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 23 May 2019

Taiwan, China

1”

CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 23 May 2019

Thailand

22,203

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 22 May 2019

Vietnam

57,880

World Health Organization, 9 May 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.


Ukraine: Measles [Update]

Ukraine continues to report measles at high levels. 50,749 cases have been reported across the country this year as of 23 May, including 17 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 May 2019)

 

The Philippines: Measles [Update]

The Philippines Department of Health has declared an outbreak of measles cases nationwide. During 1 January – 11 May 2019, a total of 34,950 cases have been reported across the country, including 477 deaths. The outbreak has declined significantly in the past few weeks.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 May 2019)

 

New Zealand: Measles [Update]

New Zealand national measles outbreak continues, with 158 cases reported so far in 2019. Auckland health officials are officially reported 71 confirmed cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 May 2019)

 

Madagascar: Measles [Update]

Since the onset of the outbreak in September 2018, a total of 145,136 measles cases have been reported in Madagascar, including 909 deaths. The outbreak is on decreasing trend.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 May 2019)

 

Reunion Island: Dengue Fever [Update]

The dengue fever outbreak on Reunion Island continues in 2019. 12,187 cases have been reported since the beginning of the year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 May 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 1,888. The total number of deaths is 1,248.

 

United Kingdom: Measles

UK health officials have reported 231 measles cases during the first quarter of 2019, being slightly lower than the number in the same period last year. Recent cases are linked to under-vaccinated communities.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 May 2019)

 

Nigeria: Monkeypox [Update]

Nigeria continues to report monkeypox since an outbreak in September 2017. As of April 2019, more than 300 cases have been reported, including multiple deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 February 2019)

 

Southeast Asia: Dengue Fever [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

From May 17 to 23, the CHP recorded three imported DF cases. The patients had been to Thailand (two cases) and Malaysia (one case) during the incubation period.

As of May 23, 51 cases had been confirmed this year, all of which were imported. The cases were mainly imported from Malaysia (11), Indonesia (10) and Thailand (10).

 

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 1,877. The total number of deaths is 1,241.

 

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 1,866. The total number of deaths is 1,223.

 

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded one additional case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 141 this year.

 

France: Measles [Update]

France has reported measles activity at high levels. More than 100 cases were reported in each of the past two weeks, with this year’s total reaching 1,184 as of 22 May, including 1 death.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 May 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 1,847. The total number of deaths is 1,218.

 

Namibia: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

Namibia has declared an outbreak of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever on May 6 this year, following 7 suspected cases being recorded including one death.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 May 2019)

 

State of New York, USA: Measles [Update]

USA New York State continues to report measles cases. As of 20 May 2019, Brooklyn and Queens have reached 523 cases in total since September 2018. Rockland County has reached 233 cases since September 2018.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 May 2019)

 

Ireland: Mumps & Measles [Update]

Ireland health officials reported mumps and measles cases remain at high levels. 1,224 mumps cases and 59 measles cases have been reported since the beginning of the year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 May 2019)