Current 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
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Virus Disease [Update]
4 February 2020
The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. The total number of cases has reached 3,427 and the total number of deaths is 2,246. 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
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 3 February 2020)
Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
4 February 2020
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) today reported a new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome case in Jeddah, the first case noted this month. In the WHO latest monthly update, since 2012, it has received reports of 2,499 MERS-CoV cases, at least 861 of them fatal. The vast majority have been in Saudi Arabia.
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 3 February 2020)
4 February 2020
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today on an outbreak of chikungunya fever cases in Kenya. From the end of 2019 through the end of Jan. 2020, 109 total cases have been reported, with 11 cases confirmed.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 February 2020)
Mainland China: Pneumonia [Update]
3 February 2020
According to the latest update from the Center for Health protection (CHP), China reported a total of 17,205 cases, 361 of them fatal.
Regarding the latest situation in the Mainland and overseas, please refer to CHP website: https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/statistics_of_the_cases_novel_coronavirus_infection_en.pdf
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
Regarding the latest situation in the Mainland and overseas, please refer to CHP website: https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/statistics_of_the_cases_novel_coronavirus_infection_en.pdf
For more information on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent or latest update on cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html
(Source: Center for Health Protection 1 February 2020)
Sri Lanka: Dengue Fever [Update]
3 February 2020
The Sri Lanka health authority continue to see high numbers of dengue fever during the beginning of 2020. During January, health officials saw 8,435 cases, including more than 1000 cases in Colombo and Trincomalee districts.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 2 February 2020)
3 February 2020
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity in United States has increased measurably for the second straight week. CDC estimated that so far this season flu has sickened 19 million people, hospitalized 180,000, and killed 10,000.
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 31 January 2020)
United Arab Emirates: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
3 February 2020
According to WHO, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reported two more Middle East Respiratory Syndrome cases, both in men who had contact with camels. The UAE has now reported 91 cases, 12 of them fatal.
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
For more information on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/26511.html
(Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy 31 January 2020)
Mainland China: Pneumonia [Update]
31 January 2020
The second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019 in the People’s Republic of China, with exportations to other countries, took place on Thursday, 30 January 2020.
The Committee agreed that the outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
As of January 30, the National Health and Health Commission of China has received a cumulative report of 9692 confirmed cases, 213 death cases.
The Committee agreed that the outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
As of January 30, the National Health and Health Commission of China has received a cumulative report of 9692 confirmed cases, 213 death cases.
(Source: World Health Organisation 30 January 2020)
(Source: Outbreak News Today 30 January 2020)
31 January 2020
Officials in Philippines reported the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus in a Chinese woman who came from Wuhan, China.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 30 January 2020)
United States of America: Pneumonia [Update]
31 January 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the first person-to-person novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States.
The case, from Chicago, Illinois, is the husband of the first novel coronavirus case in the state. The patient did not travel to Wuhan, China.
The case, from Chicago, Illinois, is the husband of the first novel coronavirus case in the state. The patient did not travel to Wuhan, China.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 31 January 2020)
31 January 2020
An additional novel coronavirus cases have been reported in Japan, bringing the case total in the country to nine.
The case reported is a Japanese who was returned to Japan on a charter flight from Wuhan.
The case reported is a Japanese who was returned to Japan on a charter flight from Wuhan.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 January 2020)
31 January 2020
Officials in France reported a total of five novel coronavirus cases.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 30 January 2020)
30 January 2020
The Malaysia Ministry of Health reported a total of seven novel coronavirus cases. All of these cases are Chinese citizens.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 January 2020)
30 January 2020
Two additional novel coronavirus cases have been reported in Japan, bringing the case total in the country to eight.
One of the new cases reported is a 40-year-old woman from Osaka, who was reported to have been in contact with a tourist from Wuhan City when he visited a medical care provider.
One of the new cases reported is a 40-year-old woman from Osaka, who was reported to have been in contact with a tourist from Wuhan City when he visited a medical care provider.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 January 2020)
30 January 2020
Nigeria health officials reported reported an additional 95 confirmed Lassa fever cases during the week ending 26 Jan, bringing the case total for 2020 to 258.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 January 2020)
30 January 2020
Officials in Finland reported the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus in a tourist who came from Wuhan, China.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 January 2020)
29 January 2020
Two additional novel coronavirus cases have been reported in Japan, bringing the case total in the country to six.
One of the cases reported is a bus driver in his 60s who drove two groups of Chinese tourists visiting Japan from Wuhan earlier this month. He had no recent travel to China, the report notes.
One of the cases reported is a bus driver in his 60s who drove two groups of Chinese tourists visiting Japan from Wuhan earlier this month. He had no recent travel to China, the report notes.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 January 2020)
29 January 2020
The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control reported the first confirmed case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
In addition, two cases of 2019-nCoV have been confirmed in Toronto, Canada.
In addition, two cases of 2019-nCoV have been confirmed in Toronto, Canada.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 January 2020)
(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 January 2020)
29 January 2020
Health officials in Germany have reported a total of four cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in Bavaria.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 January 2020)
29 January 2020
Officials in Sri Lanka say they have the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus in a Chinese tourist.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 January 2020)