Travel Health Service Year 2023

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 Mpox (also known as monkeypox) when travelling abroad

Mpox (also known as monkeypox) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mpox 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 2022, 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 Mpox, 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

USA: Malaria [Update]

6 October 2023

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) yesterday reported a locally acquired Malaria infection, the fourth state this year to report a local malaria case. In a press release, the ADH said the patient lives in Saline County, which is located in the central part of the state. The individual had not traveled outside of the country. The state has reported five travel-related malaria cases this year.

(Source: CIDRAP 6 October 2023)

Bangladesh: Dengue Fever [Update]

5 October 2023

About 225,000 Dengue cases have been reported in the current outbreak in Bangladesh, more than 38,000 of them children, and people younger than 20 make up 30% of all dengue cases. So far, more than 1,000 deaths have been reported.

(Source: CIDRAP 4 October 2023)

Burkina Faso: Chikungunya Fever

3 October 2023

The Health Emergency Response Operations Center (CORUS) informs that 89 cases of Chikungunya have been confirmed in Pouytenga in the Center-East region of Burkina Faso.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 1 October 2023)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Rabies

3 October 2023

Health officials of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced, in total, 263 cases of people bitten by dogs including 13 deaths due to Rabies were recorded in 12 months across the entire Haut-Katanga province.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 1 October 2023)

Sudan: Cholera

3 October 2023

According to WHO, Sudan has declared a Cholera outbreak in Gedaref state that has sickened 264 people and led to 14 deaths.

(Source: CIDRAP 30 September 2023)

Cote d' Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and Mali: Poliomyelitis [Update]

3 October 2023

Four countries reported more polio cases this week, all involving vaccine-derived types. Cote d' Ivoire reported one circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case, bringing its total for the year to three. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported eight cVDPV2 cases, along with two cases involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1), lifting its annual totals to 89 and 61, respectively. Elsewhere, Madagascar reported four cVDPV1 cases, putting its total at 17 for the year, and Mali reported two cVDPV2 cases, making eight for 2023.

(Source: CIDRAP 30 September 2023)