Travel Health Service Year 2020

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. 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: Dengue Fever

29 July 2020

The number of dengue fever cases in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil has increased some 200 percent in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. In the first half of 2019, Manaus saw 173 confirmed dengue cases, while in the same period this year, 525 cases were reported.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 July 2020)

 

Cambodia: Chikungunya Fever

29 July 2020

A total of 160 cases of chikungunya fever, a significant increase over average incidence, have occurred since July 19, 2020, in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 July 2020)

 

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

29 July 2020

The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is escalating further, with 23 health areas in seven health zones affected. According to the World Health Organization’s latest situation report, two additional cases were reported bringing the total in the country’s 11th outbreak to 67 with 31 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 July 2020)

 

Taiwan: Japanese Encephalitis

23 July 2020

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported three new confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis. According to CDC, there are 16 confirmed cases reported in Taiwan in 2020 to date.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2020)

 

Taiwan: Scrub Typhus

23 July 2020

Taiwan reported 60 confirmed cases of scrub typhus in the past 4 weeks. For the first six months of the year, Taiwan has seen 176 cases. The number of notifications over the years has increased from April to May, reaching a peak from June to July.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2020)