Travel Health Service Year 2022

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

Ghana: Rabies

16 September 2022

Ghana reported 4 confirmed cases and one probable case of Rabies in the Ashanti Region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 September 2022)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles [Update]

15 September 2022

As of 28 August, Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 100,044 cases of Measles with 1,294 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 September 2022)

Philippines: Dengue Fever [Update]

15 September 2022

As of 27 August, Philippines reported 145,341 cases of Dengue Fever and 461 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 September 2022)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

15 September 2022

As of 10 September, Singapore's National Environment Agency reported 26,736 cases of Dengue Fever infection.

(Source: Singapore's National Environment Agency 13 September 2022)

Brazil: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

13 September 2022

As of 31 August, Brazil reported 162,407 Chikungunya Fever cases, an 89.4% increase compared with the same period last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 September 2022)

Panama: Malaria

13 September 2022

As of 9 September, Panama reported 4,076 cases of Malaria this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 September 2022)

Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]

13 September 2022

Taiwan reported 9 locally transmitted Dengue Fever cases so far this year, including 7 cases in Kaohsiung City and 2 cases in Taichung City.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 September 2022)

Jordan: Monkeypox

13 September 2022

The Ministry of Health reported the first case of Monkeypox in Jordan.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 September 2022)

Zimbabwe: Measles

13 September 2022

As of 4 September, Zimbabwe reported 6,551 cases of Measles with 704 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 September 2022)

France: Dengue Fever [Update]

13 September 2022

To date, France recorded 16 local cases of Dengue Fever in the Occitania and the Paca region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 September 2022)

Vietnam: Dengue Fever [Update]

13 September 2022

To date, Vietnam recorded 190,005 cases of Dengue Fever and 72 deaths, a 4-times increase compared to the same period last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 September 2022)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Monkeypox [Update]

13 September 2022

As of 14 August, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 2,877 suspected cases of Monkeypox including 195 confirmed cases, with Sankuru being the most affected province.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 September 2022)