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

Taiwan, China: Japanese encephalitis

29 June 2020

Taiwan announced this week on the fourth case of Japanese encephalitis this year (2020). The patient is a 60-year-old male living in Fengshan District, Kaohsiung City. He has no recent travel history.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 June 2020)

Thailand: Melioidosis

29 June 2020

Thailand reported 1,286 melioidosis cases from 56 provinces year to date. This number is slightly higher than the same period in 2019 (1,180). Provinces with the highest prevalence include Amnat Charoen, Mukdahan, Loei, Ubon Ratchathani and Yasothon.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 June 2020)

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

26 June 2020

Twenty-four cases of Ebola virus disease have been reported since 18 May 2020 in Équateur Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak is more than 1,000 km west of a previous outbreak in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces that was declared over by World Health Organization on 25 June 2020 with more than 3,470 cases reported from mid-July 2018 through 27 April 2020. These two outbreaks appear to be unlinked; however, a source of infection has yet to be determined for either.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 June 2020)