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

Vietnam: Dengue Fever [Update]

1 September 2022

So far this year, 179,011 cases of Dengue Fever including 70 deaths were recorded in Vietnam.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 31 August 2022)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles [Update]

1 September 2022

So far this year, 82,632 cases of Measles infection including 1,120 deaths were recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 30 August 2022)

Brazil: Monkeypox [Update]

1 September 2022

As of 29 August, 611 confirmed cases and 61 probable cases of Monkeypox were reported by the State Health Department of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The first lethal case of the city was also being documented on the same day.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 30 August 2022)

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

30 August 2022

As of 29 Aug, Singapore's National Environment Agency reported 25,676 cases of Dengue Fever infection.

(Source: Singapore's National Environment Agency 30 August 2022)

Nigeria: Monkeypox [Update]

30 August 2022

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported an additional 48 confirmed cases of Monkeypox for the week ending 13 August. This brings the total to 220 cases with 4 deaths so far this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 August 2022)

Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

30 August 2022

The Pakistan National polio laboratory in Islamabad reported the 15th confirmed case of Poliovirus infection of this year. Among these, 14 cases were reported in North Waziristan and 1 case in Lakki Marwat.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 August 2022)

Canada: Meningococcal Infection

30 August 2022

Three confirmed cases of Meningococcal Infection including one death were reported in Toronto, Canada. The 3 affected individuals were born outside of Canada in countries not providing childhood immunization against Meningococcal disease.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 August 2022)

Panama: Dengue Fever [Update]

30 August 2022

The Panama Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health reported that 3,831 cases of Dengue Fever and 1 death have been registered, so far. The top 4 affected regions at the national level are led by the Metropolitan Health Region with 988 cases; North Panama with 783 cases; West Panama with 530 cases and Bocas del Toro with 526 cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 29 August 2022)

Iraq: Cholera [Update]

30 August 2022

So far this year, 1,008 cases of Cholera infection including 5 deaths were reported by the Health Ministry of Iraq.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 August 2022)

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

30 August 2022

So far this year, 10,082 confirmed cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the city of Palmas in the Brazilian state of Tocantins, Brazil.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 August 2022)

Bolivia: Hantavirus [Update]

30 August 2022

Bolivia reported 3 cases of Hantavirus in Santa Cruz.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 August 2022)

Philippines: Measles

30 August 2022

So far this year, 339 cases of Measles have been reported in Philippines, increased by 153% when compared with last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 August 2022)

Uganda: Rift Valley Fever

30 August 2022

Uganda health authorities reported 2 confirmed cases of Rift Valley Fever on 27 July and 2 August, respectively, in Rubanda and Isingiro districts both located in the south western regions of the country.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 August 2022)