Travel Health Service Year 2023

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

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 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 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

 

USA: Dengue Fever [Update]

10 February 2023

In United States of America, the Florida Department of Health reported a total of 68 cases of locally-acquired Dengue Fever in 2022. The first local case of this year was reported in Miami-Dade County in the first week of February.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 February 2023)

 

Oman: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

10 February 2023

According to World Health Organization, 1 case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome was reported on 5 January in the North Batinah Governorate, Oman. The patient is a local resident with camel racing history in the same area within 14 days prior to the onset of illness.

Since the first case was reported in 2013, Oman has reported 26 cases of infection including 7 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 February 2023)

 

Singapore: Dengue Fever [Update]

7 February 2023

As of 6 February, Singapore’s National Environment Agency reported 1,266 cases of Dengue Fever infection.

(Source: Singapore’s National Environment Agency 7 February 2023)

 

Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]

7 February 2023

As of 7 February, Taiwan has reported 6 imported cases of Dengue Fever infection. Four cases were imported from Indonesia and one each for India and Philippine.

(Source: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control 7 February 2023)

 

Bolivia: Dengue Fever [Update]

7 February 2023

As of 4 February, Bolivia reported 3,437 cases of Dengue Fever infection including 13 deaths. Among these, 2,554 cases were reported in Santa Cruz department, followed by 518 in Beni, 150 in Tarija and 91 in La Paz.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 February 2023)

 

Bangladesh: Nipah Virus [Update]

7 February 2023

So far this year, 10 cases of Nipah Virus infection including 7 deaths were reported in Bangladesh.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 February 2023)

 

Paraguay: Chikungunya Fever

7 February 2023

In Paraguay, the General Directorate of Health Surveillance reported 8,442 cases of Chikungunya Fever during 8 - 28 January 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 February 2023)

 

Dominican Republic: Diphtheria

7 February 2023

Four children with age range from 2 months to 4 years were hospitalized with Diphtheria infection in Santo Somingo, Dominican Republic.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 February 2023)

 

Burundi: Malaria

7 February 2023

According to UNICEF, the number of Malaria infection in Burundi is increasing from 4,753,819 cases in 2020, to 6,151,128 cases in 2021 and to 7,293,316 in 2022.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 February 2023)

 

Zambia: Cholera

7 February 2023

An outbreak of Cholera infection was declared by the Ministry of Health, Zambia on 26 January.

As of 27 January, there were 13 suspected cases, 6 confirmed, 12 admitted, 7 discharged, and one death.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 February 2023)