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

Philippines: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

22 September 2022

As of 3 September, Philippines reported 478 Chikungunya Fever cases, an increase of 573% when compared with the same period last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 September 2022)

Laos: Dengue Fever [Update]

22 September 2022

As of 20 September, Laos reported 25,181 cases of Dengue Fever and 18 deaths. Among these, the capital Vientiane reported 12,739 cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 September 2022)

Philippines: Cholera [Update]

22 September 2022

As of 27 August, 3,318 cases of Cholera were reported by the Philippines Department of Health. Among these, Eastern Visayas accounted for two-thirds of the total cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 September 2022)

Mongolia: Plague

22 September 2022

The Mongolia Ministry of Health in Ulaanbaatar reported 1 confirmed case of bubonic Plague in the Khovd Province on 12 September.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 September 2022)

Uganda: Ebola

22 September 2022

On 20 September, the Uganda Ministry of Health declared an Ebola outbreak after 1 lethal infection was confirmed in Mubende district.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 September 2022)

Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 September 2022

So far this year, Taiwan reported 52 cases of Dengue Fever infection including 18 local cases: 16 cases in Kaohsiung City and 2 cases in Taichung City.

Among the remaining 34 imported cases, 21 cases from Vietnam and 6 cases from Indonesia.

(Source: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control 20 September 2022)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 September 2022

As of 19 September, Singapore's National Environment Agency reported 27,378 cases of Dengue Fever infection.

(Source: Singapore's National Environment Agency 20 September 2022)

Vietnam: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 September 2022

To date, Vietnam recorded 211,388 cases of Dengue Fever including 87 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 September 2022)

Philippines: Typhoid [Update]

20 September 2022

As of 27 August, Philippines reported 9,057 cases of Typhoid.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 September 2022)

Mauritania: Rift Valley Fever

20 September 2022

On 16 September, Mauritania health authorities reported 7 cases of Rift Valley Fever infection including 4 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 September 2022)

France: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 September 2022

As of 14 September, France recorded 36 local cases of Dengue Fever in the Occitania and the Paca region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 September 2022)

Mainland China: Monkeypox

20 September 2022

On 16 September, mainland China recorded the first case of Monkeypox in a person with recent oversea travel history. According to health officials in Chongqing city, the patient is being isolated at a designated hospital and is in stable condition.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 September 2022)

USA: Monkeypox [Update]

20 September 2022

In USA, the New Hampshire state health officials reported the State's first pediatric Monkeypox infection in a child from Manchester.

So far this year, almost all of the infected people were adults. However, CDC reported at least 27 children and adolescents under the age of 16 years were infected by the disease across the country.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 September 2022)

Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

20 September 2022

The Pakistan National polio laboratory in Islamabad reported the 19th confirmed case of Poliovirus infection of this year. Among these, 16 cases were reported in North Waziristan, 2 cases in Lakki Marwat and 1 case in South Waziristan.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 September 2022)

Brazil: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

20 September 2022

In Brazil, the Municipality of Campinas in São Paulo State confirmed two more deaths of residents from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, bringing the total to four in 2022.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 September 2022)