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
Take precautions against Monkeypox when travelling abroad
Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by Monkeypox virus. Often found in tropical forest regions of Central and West Africa. It is mainly transmitted by contact with infected animals, human-to-human transmission is limited. Incubation period is mainly from 6 to 13 days, symptoms are similar with Smallpox infection, but less severe.
Since 6 May this year, multiple outbreaks were reported in Europe and North America countries, and many patient are self-identified as bisexual or men who have sex with men. Travellers planning to travel in these areas should avoid contact with infected person. Travellers returning from these areas shall notify the doctor to seek medical treatment and inform the travel situation if feeling unwell.
For more information on Monkeypox, including the latest situation in overseas countries or places, please visit the World Health Organization and Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpages at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox#tab=tab_1
https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105683.html
Sierra Leone: Anthrax [Update]
11 July 2022
As of 17 June 2022, a total of six
Anthrax cases were reported in
Sierra Leone.
Argentina: Monkeypox [Update]
11 July 2022
Argentina reported a total of 9 cases of
Monkeypox infection so far.
New Zealand: Monkeypox
11 July 2022
New Zealand health authorities have reported the first
Monkeypox case in the country.
Spain: Monkeypox [Update]
11 July 2022
As of 8 July,
Spain reported 2,034 confirmed cases of
Monkeypox infection.
Iraq: Cholera
11 July 2022
According to the Ministry of Health of
Iraq, 160 confirmed cases of
Cholera and 2 deaths have been reported.
Ghana: Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever
11 July 2022
The World Health Organization announced
Ghana reported the preliminary finding of two cases of
Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever and if confirmed these would the first such infections recorded in the country.
Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]
7 July 2022
As of 6 July,
Taiwan reported 7
Dengue Fever infection. All cases were imported: 5 from Vietnam, 2 from Indonesia.
Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]
7 July 2022
As of 6 Jul,
Singapore's National Environment Agency reported 18,801 cases of
Dengue Fever infection.
Panama: Monkeypox
7 July 2022
Panama Health Minister confirmed the first case of
Monkeypox in the country.
Vietnam: Dengue Fever
7 July 2022
The
Vietnam Ministry of Health reported 15,000 additional cases of
Dengue Fever infection in the last 10 days, bringing the total to 92,000 as of 4 July.
USA: Monkeypox [Update]
7 July 2022
In
USA,
Florida Department of Health has reported 63 cases of
Monkeypox infection.
As of 5 July, the
New York City Department of Health reported 111 cases of Monkeypox infection. The current cases are primarily spreading among social networks of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 July 2022)
Peru: Monkeypox
7 July 2022
The
Peru Ministry of Health confirmed 12 new cases of
Monkeypox infection, bringing the total to 15 in the country.
Costa Rica: Malaria
7 July 2022
The
Costa Rica Ministry of Health reported 256 cases of
Malaria through 18 June.
Canada: Monkeypox [Update]
7 July 2022
So far this year,
Canada has reported 300 cases of confirmed
Monkeypox infection. Among these, 211 cases in Quebec, 77 in Ontario and 4 in British Columbia.
Brazil: Monkeypox [Update]
7 July 2022
According to the Ministry of Health, 76 confirmed
Monkeypox cases were reported in
Brazil so far this year. Among these cases, 52 cases were reported in São Paulo and 16 cases in Rio de Janeiro.
Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]
5 July 2022
As of 1 Jul,
Singapore's National Environment Agency reported 17,958 cases of
Dengue Fever infection.
USA: Monkeypox [Update]
5 July 2022
As of 1 July, the
USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 460 confirmed cases of
Monkeypox in 31 states and the District of Columbia.
El Salvador: Dengue Fever
5 July 2022
The
El Salvador Ministry of Health reported 8,748 suspected cases of
Dengue Fever through 18 June, an increase of 333% when compared to the same period last year.
Fiji: Measles
5 July 2022
Fiji health officials reported 6 cases of
Measles. Two cases were reported in Labasa, 3 in Rewa and 1 in Nasinu.
Iraq: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever [Update]
5 July 2022
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Plague [Update]
5 July 2022
During 27 Mar to 26 Jun, 351 suspected cases of
Plague infection including 5 deaths were reported in the Ituri Province,
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Argentina: Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever
5 July 2022
The Government of Córdoba, in south-central Argentina announced this week two people have contracted Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever.
Rodents are the host of the disease and infection are more common in rural agricultural areas. The fatality rate can reach 30% if without early treatment.
Vietnam: Dengue Fever [Update]
5 July 2022
In Ho Chi Minh City, the number of
Dengue Fever cases reported in the first 6 months of this year has reached 18,976 cases, an increase of more than 151% over the same period last year.
So far this year, 77,000 cases were reported in
Vietnam.
Pakistan: Naegleria Fowleri
5 July 2022
In
Pakistan, 2 lethal cases of
Naegleria Fowleri infection (Amoebic Meningoencephalitis) were reported in Karachi, adding the total to 4 cases in the city so far this year.
Nigeria: Monkeypox [Update]
5 July 2022
The
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported an additional 21 confirmed cases of
Monkeypox for the week ending 25 June. This brings the total to 62 cases so far this year. In addition, 204 suspected cases and one death have also been reported.
Philippines: Dengue Fever [Update]
5 July 2022
In
Philippines, the Zamboanga City Health Office recorded 90 cases of
Dengue Fever with 1 death for the week ending 25 June. This brings the cumulative number of cases in 2022 to 2,775, 1,775% higher when compared to the same period last year.
Brazil: Monkeypox [Update]
5 July 2022
According to the Ministry of Health, 21 confirmed
Monkeypox cases were reported in
Brazil: 14 in São Paulo, 2 in Rio Grande do Sul and 5 in Rio de Janeiro. Another 23 cases were under investigation.