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

Malaysia: Poliomyelitis

23 March 2020

Malaysia reported the first case of poliomyelitis in 2020. The case was reported in Sabah province. The total number of cases reported in 2019 remains three.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 March 2020)

Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

23 March 2020

Five additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in Pakistan. This brings the total number of cases in 2020 to 30.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 March 2020)

Nigeria: Lassa fever [Update]

20 March 2020

Nigeria health officials reported a total of 906 confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2020.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 March 2020)

Africa: Poliomyelitis [Update]

20 March 2020

Outbreaks of poliomyelitis have been reported in several African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Togo and Zambia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers to the countries listed above be vaccinated fully against polio.

(Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 9 March 2020)