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

Madagascar: Plague

29 December 2022

Three people died on Tuesday due to Plague infection in Ambohidratrimo district, approximately 75 km from the capital Antananarivo in Madagascar. Three other people were hospitalized, including a young man who was in critical condition.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 December 2022)

Brazil: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

29 December 2022

As of 17 December, Brazil reported 172,082 probable cases of Chikungunya Fever.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 December 2022)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cholera

29 December 2022

Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded a total of 296 cases of Cholera including 6 deaths in the Ruzizi health zone in the southern part of South Kivu province.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 December 2022)

Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]

29 December 2022

As of 28 December, Taiwan reported 83 cases of Dengue Fever infection including 63 imported cases. Thirty-seven cases were imported from Vietnam, followed by 8 from Indonesia and 6 from the Philippines.

(Source: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control 28 December 2022)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

29 December 2022

As of 24 December, Singapore's National Environment Agency reported 31,892 cases of Dengue Fever infection.

(Source: Singapore's National Environment Agency 28 December 2022)

Haiti: Cholera [Update]

28 December 2022

As of 23 December, Haiti reported 19,378 suspected cases of Cholera infection including 355 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 December 2022)

South Africa: Measles [Update]

28 December 2022

As of 17 December, South Africa reported 227 cases of confirmed Measles infection.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 December 2022)

Malaysia: Dengue Fever [Update]

28 December 2022

As of 17 December, the Malaysia Ministry of Health reported 62,060 cases of Dengue Fever infection with 49 deaths. Number of cases increased by 146.7% when compared with the same period last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 December 2022)

Vietnam: Dengue Fever [Update]

28 December 2022

To date, Vietnam recorded 354,282 cases of Dengue Fever infection including 133 deaths. The number of cases increased by 5 times compared to the same period last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 December 2022)