Travel Health Service Year 2020

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. 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.

For more information on dengue fever, including the latest situation in neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage at https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/38847.html

Brazil: Measles

21 April 2020

Brazil reported a measles outbreak that has affected 909, including 4 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 April 2020)

Argentina: Measles

21 April 2020

Argentina reported a measles outbreak that has affected 54 with most cases reported in Buenos Aires Province.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 April 2020)

Mexico: Measles [Update]

21 April 2020

Mexico reported a measles outbreak that has affected 124, including 105 cases in Mexico City.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 April 2020)

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 April 2020

During the first 15 weeks in 2020, Brazil reported 685,063 cases of Dengue fever infection, including 181 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 April 2020)

Paraguay: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 April 2020

During the first 15 weeks in 2020, Paraguay reported 223,751 cases of Dengue fever infection, including 55 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 April 2020)

Nigeria: Lassa fever [Update]

20 April 2020

Nigeria health officials reported additional confirmed cases of Lassa fever, bringing to a total of 973 in 2020, including 188 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 April 2020)

Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

20 April 2020

Additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in Pakistan. This brings the total number of cases in 2020 to 39.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 17 April 2020)

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

16 April 2020

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,457 and the total number of deaths is 2,277. 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 14 April 2020)

Vietnam: Avian Influenza, poultry

16 April 2020

Vietnam reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza . The outbreaks began in late February, affecting birds in 10 provinces in the north.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 14 April 2020)