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

Laos: Dengue Fever

25 July 2022

As of July 23, Laos reported 11,325 cases and 13 deaths of Dengue fever.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 July 2022)

India: Japanese Encephalitis

25 July 2022

State of Assam in India reported 238 cases of Japanese encephalitis including 38 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 23 July 2022)

India: Japanese Encephalitis

25 July 2022

Thailand reported the first confirmed case of Monkeypox infection in Phuket.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 23 July 2022)

Philippines: Dengue Fever [Update]

22 July 2022

As of 9 July, 5,837 Dengue Fever cases including 34 deaths have been reported in the Western Visayas, Philippines.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2022)

USA: Poliomyelitis

22 July 2022

The New York State Department of Health and the Rockland County Department of Health alerted the public to a confirmed case of vaccine-derived Polio in a Rockland County resident.

Since oral polio vaccine is no longer used in USA since 2000, this case suggested that the transmission chain may involve an individual who received oral polio vaccine elsewhere.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2022)

Croatia: Anthrax

21 July 2022

The Croatia Health Ministry reported on 18 July that 8 cases of Anthrax were reported in Lonjsko polje region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 July 2022)

Tanzania: Leptospirosis

21 July 2022

In Tanzania, Minister of Health announced on 18 July that 3 confirmed lethal cases of Leptospirosis were reported in Lindi Region.