Current 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 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
12 October 2023
A statewide Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in New Mexico is being investigated with links to exposures at a livestock petting zoo at the New Mexico State Fair.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) investigation has revealed three patients with laboratory-confirmed Cryptosporidiosis infections and an additional 15 clinically compatible cases, all reportedly exposed to the State Fair.
12 October 2023
Cambodia: Avian Influenza [Update]
10 October 2023
The Cambodia health ministry posted a notice yesterday about the first patient of H5N1 Avian Influenza, a 50-year-old man from Svay Rieng province. The ministry report said more than 50 chickens had died at the man’s house and his neighbor’s house and that the birds were distributed for eating. Health officials are tracking down contacts and issuing public health warnings in the affected area.
Today, the ministry posted a notice about a second H5N1 case, which involves a 2-year-old girl from neighboring Prey Veng province who died from her infection. The report said investigators found dead chickens in the girl’s house. The two cases are the fourth to be reported from Cambodia this year.
Afghanistan, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]
10 October 2023
Three countries reported new Polio cases this week, according to the latest update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
In Afghanistan, one wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case was reported in Nangarhar province, bringing the number of reported cases in 2023 to six. GPEI notes that Nangarhar was covered during the subnational immunization days in May and July, as part of an intensified effort to disrupt persistent local WPV1 transmission in the area.
Chad reported 3 cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Logone Oriental, Mayo Kebbi Est, and Dar Sila provinces, bringing the number of 2023 cases to 36. The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 1 cVDPV2 case, in Tshopo province, bringing its 2023 total to 90.
Not included in the GPEI update is a WPV1 case in an 18-month-old girl in Islamabad, Pakistan. That case was confirmed by Pakistan's National Polio Laboratory, according to reporting by Pakistani news channel ARY News. It's the country's third polio case this year.