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

Nigeria: Diphtheria [Update]

10 August 2023

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported a total of 1,506 suspected Diphtheria cases from 59 LGAs in 11 states across the country in July 23. Of the suspected cases, 579 or 38.5 percent were confirmed. A total of 39 deaths were recorded among all confirmed cases (CFR: 6.7%).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 August 2023)

USA: Dengue Fever [Update]

10 August 2023

Florida state health officials reported four additional cases of locally acquired Dengue were in the past week from Broward (2) and Miami-Dade (2) counties. This brings the total to 10 so far in 2023-in Miami-Dade (8) and Broward (2) counties, with onsets in January, March, June (3), and July (5).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 August 2023)

Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]

10 August 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated Monday there were 264 new local cases of Dengue Fever in Taiwan last week (August 1 to August 7, 2023)–Tainan City (229 cases), Yunlin County (20 cases), Kaohsiung City (6 cases), Chiayi County (5 cases), Pingtung County (2 cases), Taichung City (1 case) and Miaoli County (1 case). This year as of August 7, a total of 1,109 local cases have been reported.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 August 2023)

Mongolia: Plague

10 August 2023

Mongolia’s National Center for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD) reported today of a case of bubonic Plague in an individual from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. It is reported that the man ate infected marmot meat.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 August 2023)

Philippines: Leptospirosis [Update]

8 August 2023

On the northwestern coast of Luzon, Philippines, officials with the Department of Health Ilocos Region (DOH-1) are reporting a 60 percent increase in Leptospirosis cases through July 22 this year. They report 45 cases to date, up from 28 cases during the same period last year. In addition, deaths due to leptospirosis have increased 21 percent during this period in the region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 August 2023)

USA: Dengue Fever [Update]

8 August 2023

The Florida Department of Health reported another local Dengue case, raising the total to six for the year. Like the others, the patient is from Miami-Dade County.

(Source: CIDRAP 8 August 2023)