Current 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 01/01/2020 *Singapore |
547@ |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 9 January 2020 |
@Cumulative cases since 29 December 2019.
|
Cumulative reported no. |
Source of information and date of report |
Australia |
1,419 |
World Health Organization, 2 January 2020 |
Brazil |
2,120,142 |
World Health Organization, 9 January 2020 |
Guangdong, China |
5,986 |
Health Commission of Guangdong Province, 13 December 2019 |
India |
136,422 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 November 2019 |
Japan |
456^ |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 25 December 2019 |
Lao PDR |
38,753 |
World Health Organization, 2 January 2020 |
Malaysia |
127,407 |
World Health Organization, 2 January 2020 |
Mexico |
268,458 |
World Health Organization, 9 January 2020 |
The Philippines |
420,453 |
World Health Organization, 2 January 2020 |
Sri Lanka |
103,487 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 9 January 2020 |
Taiwan, China |
647 |
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, 9 January 2020 |
Thailand |
128,964 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 8 January 2020 |
Vietnam |
320,702 |
World Health Organization, 2 January 2020 |
* 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.
Mainland China: Pneumonia [Update]
14 January 2020
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 13) received notification from the National Health Commission (NHC) on the latest information on the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The public is again urged to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
According to the information from the NHC, as of yesterday (January 12), 41 patients had been diagnosed as having infection of the novel coronavirus. No new case was reported and one additional case was discharged yesterday. So far, a total of seven patients have been discharged, six patients are in serious condition and one died, while the remaining patients are in stable condition. A total of 763 close contacts have been identified. All have been put under medical surveillance with 76 of them having completed the surveillance, and no related cases have been detected so far.
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
According to the information from the NHC, as of yesterday (January 12), 41 patients had been diagnosed as having infection of the novel coronavirus. No new case was reported and one additional case was discharged yesterday. So far, a total of seven patients have been discharged, six patients are in serious condition and one died, while the remaining patients are in stable condition. A total of 763 close contacts have been identified. All have been put under medical surveillance with 76 of them having completed the surveillance, and no related cases have been detected so far.
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 13 January 2020)
14 January 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with officials in Thailand and China following reports of confirmation of the novel coronavirus in a person in Thailand. The person was a traveler from Wuhan, China, and was identified by Thai officials on 8 January, and hospitalized that day. The person is recovering from the illness according to Thai officials.
(Source: The World Health Organization (WHO) 13 January 2020)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
14 January 2020
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,398 and the total number of deaths is 2,235. 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
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
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 13 January 2020)
14 January 2020
Thailand health officials close out 2019 with 11,484 chikungunya fever cases, more than triple the 3,580 cases reported in 2018. The current outbreak began in October 2018. The following province were hit the hardest by the mosquito-borne viral infection – Pattani, Ranong, Phuket, Tak and Songkhla, which include popular tourist destinations.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 January 2020)
Mainland China: Pneumonia [Update]
13 January 2020
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 12) received further notification from the National Health Commission (NHC) on the latest information of the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The public is again urged to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
According to the information from the NHC, as at yesterday (January 11), 41 patients have been diagnosed to have infection of the novel coronavirus and no new case was reported on January 11. Among them, six patients have been discharged, seven patients are in serious condition and one died, while the remaining patients are in stable condition. A total of 763 close contacts have been identified. All have been put under medical surveillance with 46 of them having completed the surveillance, and no related cases have been detected so far.
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
According to the information from the NHC, as at yesterday (January 11), 41 patients have been diagnosed to have infection of the novel coronavirus and no new case was reported on January 11. Among them, six patients have been discharged, seven patients are in serious condition and one died, while the remaining patients are in stable condition. A total of 763 close contacts have been identified. All have been put under medical surveillance with 46 of them having completed the surveillance, and no related cases have been detected so far.
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 12 January 2020)
Southeast Asia: Dengue Fever [Update]
13 January 2020
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 10) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and strongly urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.
From January 3 to 9, the CHP recorded four imported DF cases. The patients had respectively been to the Philippines (three cases) and Thailand (one case) during the incubation period.
As of January 9, a total of four cases of DF had been recorded in 2020, all of which were imported cases. In 2019, 198 cases were recorded (comprising 197 imported cases and one local case), as compared with 163 cases recorded in 2018. The imported cases in 2019 were mainly from Thailand (34), Malaysia (27) and the Philippines (25).
The CHP has been closely monitoring the latest DF situation in neighbouring and overseas areas. DF is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. According to the World Health Organization, some Asian countries were experiencing unusually high numbers of DF cases in 2019. The numbers of cases in some countries were significantly higher than the numbers in 2018, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Separately, according to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, as of November 30 last year, a total of 5 986 cases had been recorded in Guangdong in 2019, which was significantly higher than that in the same period in 2018 (3 250 cases). In Taiwan, 640 cases (including 100 local cases) had been recorded in 2019 and as of yesterday, seven imported cases (none local) have been recorded in 2020.
Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas has been uploaded to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf). Members of the public should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.
From January 3 to 9, the CHP recorded four imported DF cases. The patients had respectively been to the Philippines (three cases) and Thailand (one case) during the incubation period.
As of January 9, a total of four cases of DF had been recorded in 2020, all of which were imported cases. In 2019, 198 cases were recorded (comprising 197 imported cases and one local case), as compared with 163 cases recorded in 2018. The imported cases in 2019 were mainly from Thailand (34), Malaysia (27) and the Philippines (25).
The CHP has been closely monitoring the latest DF situation in neighbouring and overseas areas. DF is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. According to the World Health Organization, some Asian countries were experiencing unusually high numbers of DF cases in 2019. The numbers of cases in some countries were significantly higher than the numbers in 2018, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Separately, according to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, as of November 30 last year, a total of 5 986 cases had been recorded in Guangdong in 2019, which was significantly higher than that in the same period in 2018 (3 250 cases). In Taiwan, 640 cases (including 100 local cases) had been recorded in 2019 and as of yesterday, seven imported cases (none local) have been recorded in 2020.
Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas has been uploaded to the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf). Members of the public should stay vigilant and carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 10 January 2020)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
13 January 2020
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,393 and the total number of deaths is 2,235. 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
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
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 10 January 2020)
Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
13 January 2020
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported one new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome case, the third to be reported in January. No contact with camels before symptom onset was reported in this case. In a recent update on MERS-CoV earlier this week, the WHO said it had received 2,494 cases since the virus was first detected in people in 2012, mostly from Saudi Arabia. At least 858 deaths have been reported
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 10 January 2020)
Mainland China: Pneumonia [Update]
10 January 2020
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 9) received notification from the National Health Commission (NHC) on the latest progress of the identification of the pathogen for the reported cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province.
According to information from the NHC, the Mainland's expert group has preliminarily determined that the pathogen of the cluster of viral pneumonia cases occurring in Wuhan is a kind of novel coronavirus. The relevant Mainland laboratory has detected a novel coronavirus and obtained the whole genome sequence of the virus.
The expert group revealed that molecular testing of 15 cases returned positive results for the novel coronavirus, and the virus was also isolated from a sample of a case. Under electron microscopy, the virus showed the typical appearance of coronavirus. The expert group added that the testing for nucleic acid, genome and antibodies from the samples of patients could be completed within a short period, thereby assisting in confirmation of the pathogen. Nonetheless, the virus isolation and pathogenicity studies would take several weeks. Moving forward, further deliberation by experts taking into consideration pathogen research, epidemiological investigation and clinical assessment is needed.
On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier pointed out that there is limited information to determine the overall risk of this reported cluster of pneumonia. The WHO emphasised that more comprehensive information is required to understand the current status and epidemiology of the outbreak, and the clinical picture. Further investigations are also required to determine the source, modes of transmission, extent of infection and countermeasures implemented.
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
According to information from the NHC, the Mainland's expert group has preliminarily determined that the pathogen of the cluster of viral pneumonia cases occurring in Wuhan is a kind of novel coronavirus. The relevant Mainland laboratory has detected a novel coronavirus and obtained the whole genome sequence of the virus.
The expert group revealed that molecular testing of 15 cases returned positive results for the novel coronavirus, and the virus was also isolated from a sample of a case. Under electron microscopy, the virus showed the typical appearance of coronavirus. The expert group added that the testing for nucleic acid, genome and antibodies from the samples of patients could be completed within a short period, thereby assisting in confirmation of the pathogen. Nonetheless, the virus isolation and pathogenicity studies would take several weeks. Moving forward, further deliberation by experts taking into consideration pathogen research, epidemiological investigation and clinical assessment is needed.
On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier pointed out that there is limited information to determine the overall risk of this reported cluster of pneumonia. The WHO emphasised that more comprehensive information is required to understand the current status and epidemiology of the outbreak, and the clinical picture. Further investigations are also required to determine the source, modes of transmission, extent of infection and countermeasures implemented.
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 9 January 2020)
10 January 2020
According to health authority in Vietnam, the number of dengue fever cases reported in 2019 was a significant increase compared to 2018. Since Jan. 1 through Dec. 14, 2019, there have been a total of 320,702 cases with 54 deaths reported, a 2.5-fold increase compared to the same period in 2018.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 January 2020)
United Arab Emirates: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
9 January 2020
United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported one laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome infection in late December 2019. The case is a 74-year-old national who owns a camel farm located in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi region in UAE where he is living. He is currently in stable condition in hospital. Since 2012, UAE has reported 89 cases of MERS-CoV (including this case) and 12 associated deaths. From 2012 through 29 December 2019, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported globally to WHO is 2494 with 858 associated deaths.
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 January 2020)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
9 January 2020
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,392 and the total number of deaths is 2,234. 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
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
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 8 January 2020)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles [Update]
8 January 2020
Measles activity in Democratic Republic of the Congo remains high. 310,000 cases have been reported since January 2019, including 6,000 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 7 January 2020)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
8 January 2020
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,391 and the total number of deaths is 2,234. 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
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 7 January 2020)