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

Bangladesh: Dengue Fever [Update]

30 August 2021

Bangladesh reported 9,857 cases of Dengue Fever this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 August 2021)

Yemen: Dengue Fever

30 August 2021

Yemen have reported 4,770 cases of Dengue Fever in Taiz governorate in the southwestern part of the country since the beginning of the year through the end of July.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 August 2021)

Pakistan: Typhoid Fever

30 August 2021

Pakistan Health Authorities have reported 1,739 cases of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever in Karachi this year. From 1 Jan 2017 through 14 Aug 2021, 15,224 cases of XDR typhoid fever were reported in Karachi.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 August 2021)

Argentina: Trichinosis

30 August 2021

The Cordoba Ministry of Health in central Argentina reported 17 people have been diagnosed with trichinosis and they have consumed salami and chorizo of commercial origin.

[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 27 August 2021)

Brazil: Brazilian Spotted Fever

26 August 2021

Two fatal cases of Brazilian Spotted Fever were reported in Contagem, a metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Brazilian Spotted Fever is an acute febrile infectious disease transmitted via tick bite, with 20-30% mortality rate in Brazil.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 August 2021)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

24 August 2021

As of 23 August, Singapore’s National Environment Agency reported 3,945 cases of Dengue infection.

(Source: Singapore’s National Environment Agency 24 August 2021)