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

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles [Update]

7 April 2020

Measles outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo continues. There has been a total of 353,551 cases and 6,558 deaths since the 31 December 2018.

For more information on measles, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/100419.html

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 April 2020)

 

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Monkeypox

7 April 2020

So far this year, Democratic Republic of the Congo reported a total of 1,471 suspected cases of monkeypox, including 18 deaths.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that occurs throughout remote parts of Central and West Africa. It is spread through contact with infected animal or human (alive or dead) or with materials contaminated with the virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 April 2020)

 

Mexico: Measles

6 April 2020

Health officials in Mexico reported a measles outbreak that has affected 101, including 87 cases in Mexico City.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 April 2020)

 

Bangladesh: Measles

6 April 2020

Officials in Bangladesh reported an outbreak of measles which has claimed the lives of 8 children and infected more than 300 people in in Rangamati District.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 April 2020)

 

Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

6 April 2020

Four additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in Pakistan. This brings the total number of cases in 2020 to 36.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 April 2020)

 

Afghanistan: Poliomyelitis

6 April 2020

Afghanistan has recorded 3 cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases so far this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 April 2020)

 

Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

1 April 2020

Two cases of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever were reported in Sindh province in Pakistan.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 31 March 2020)

 

India: Kyasanur Forest Disease

1 April 2020

Since the beginning of 2020, 124 cases of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) have been reported in Shivamogga district in India, including 4 death cases.

KFD is caused by a virus that can be spread to human by tick bites or contact with infected animals. Symptoms of KFD include high fever, chills, severe headache, sensitivity to light, and diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding of the gums, nose, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 31 March 2020)

 

Malaysia: Rabies

1 April 2020

Malaysia health officials have reported the first human rabies case and death in 2020. The case was a 5-year-old girl who was attacked by dogs and bitten on the face earlier this month in Sarawak.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 30 March 2020)