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

Pakistan: Dengue Fever

18 October 2021

Health Officials in Punjab province in eastern Pakistan reported 5,700 Dengue cases including 18 deaths province-wide this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 October 2021)

Japan: Japanese Encephalitis

18 October 2021

A woman from Kunisaki City in Ōita Prefecture of Japan died after contracting Japanese Encephalitis. This is the first time a Japanese Encephalitis death had been confirmed in the prefecture since 2006.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 October 2021)

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

15 October 2021

Democratic Republic of the Congo reported the second confirmed case of Ebola in Beni health zone of North Kivu Province on 13 October.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 October 2021)

Kenya: Schistosomiasis

15 October 2021

Over 200 cases of schistosomiasis were reported in Boni forest, Garissa County of Kenya.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 October 2021)

Niger: Malaria

15 October 2021

As of 19 September, the World Health Organization reported 2,297,488 confirmed cases of malaria with 2,124 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 October 2021)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

15 October 2021

As of 9 October, Singapore’s National Environment Agency reported 4,489 cases of Dengue infection.

(Source: Singapore’s National Environment Agency 12 October 2021)

Peru: Dengue Fever [Update]

12 October 2021

The National Epidemiology Center of Peru have reported 36,200 Dengue cases nationally, 42.6% increase compared to the same period in 2020.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 October 2021)