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

Costa Rica: Dengue fever

27 April 2020

From the beginning of this year through the end of March, health officials in Costa Rica reported 1,760 cases of dengue fever, while 542 cases were reported during the same period last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 April 2020)

Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

27 April 2020

Two additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in Pakistan. This brings the total number of cases in 2020 to 41.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 April 2020)

Afghanistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

27 April 2020

Afghanistan reported an additional case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), bringing the total number to 4 this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 April 2020)

Malaysia: Dengue fever

23 April 2020

Health officials in Malaysia reported 38,240 cases of dengue fever this year, including 63 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 April 2020)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

23 April 2020

Till 22 April 2020, 5,999 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Singapore, double that over the same period last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 April 2020)

Hungary: Avian Influenza, poultry

23 April 2020

Hungary reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza. 53 farms in Bacs-Kiskun County and 6 farms in Csongrad County were affected, both are in the southern part of the country.

(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 22 April 2020)