Travel Health Service Year 2021

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

Colombia: Dengue fever

15 November 2021

According to Pan American Health Organization, Colombia reported 35,000 cases of Dengue infection, including 36 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 November 2021)

French Guiana: Measles

15 November 2021

For the first ten months of 2021, French Guiana reported five confirmed Measles cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 November 2021)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Malaria [Update]

15 November 2021

An epidemiologist from the Kasai-Oriental Provincial Health Division of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported at least 10,000 cases of malaria in one week. In 2020, Kasai-Oriental recorded 1,015,367 cases of malaria.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 November 2021)

Argentina: Trichinosis [Update]

11 November 2021

Argentina reported three outbreaks of trichinosis in Cañuelas and Chascomús in the province of Buenos Aires, and Villa del Totoral in the province of Córdoba. Since the beginning of this year, 321 suspected cases have been reported.

[Editor's note: Trichinosis is caused by eating raw or undercooked meat of animals infected with the larvae of a species of worm called Trichinella. The disease in humans is severe and frequently has a lethal outcome. The symptoms of the disease include fever, eye swelling, muscle pain and often skin rash, headaches, and diarrhoea. In severe case, patients may experience difficulty coordinating movements, and have heart and breathing problems.]

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 November 2021)

Pakistan: Dengue fever [Update]

11 November 2021

Pakistan reported 19,021 cases of Dengue infection with 75 deaths so far this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 November 2021)

Ghana: Yellow Fever [Update]

10 November 2021

The World Health Organization reported 42 suspected Yellow Fever infection in Ghana from October 15 to November 3.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 November 2021)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Typhoid [Update]

10 November 2021

The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 1,121,104 cases of Typhoid with 411 deaths from the beginning of the year through the end of September 2021.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 November 2021)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

10 November 2021

As of 6 November, Singapore’s National Environment Agency reported 4,779 cases of Dengue infection.

(Source: Singapore’s National Environment Agency 9 November 2021)

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

9 November 2021

The World Health Organization reported 11 cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 6 deaths in North Kivu province.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 November 2021)

India: Dengue Fever [Update]

9 November 2021

Delhi of India reported 2,708 cases of Dengue Fever infection with 9 deaths so far this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 November 2021)