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

Costa Rica: Malaria [Update]

14 April 2023

As of April 13 of this year, a total of 105 positive cases of Malaria have been identified in the Huerta Caribe region in Costa Rica.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 April 2023)

Vietnam: Tetanus

14 April 2023

Vietnam Health officials reported 5 Tetanus cases were recorded in Hanoi, including 1 death through April 10 this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 April 2023)

Philippines: Rabies [Update]

14 April 2023

From the beginning of the year through March 18, the Philippines has reported 73 human Rabies cases/deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 April 2023)

Paraguay: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

13 April 2023

In the past three weeks, 13,847 Chikungunya cases were reported in Paraguay, with the majority in Central (3,735, or 27%), Asuncion (2,644, or 19%) and Alto Parana (1,890, or 14%).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 April 2023)

Equatorial Guinea: Marburg Virus Disease [Update]

12 April 2023

Health officials in Equatorial Guinea reported an additional confirmed Marburg Virus Disease case, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 15. In addition, another fatality has been reported, bringing that total to 11.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 April 2023)

Costa Rica: Malaria

12 April 2023

Health officials in Costa Rica reported an outbreak of Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum in Limón province on the east coast of the country. A total of 60 cases of falciparum malaria has been recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 April 2023)

Togo: Pneumococcal meningitis

12 April 2023

Since mid-December 2022, Togo has been responding to a Pneumococcal Meningitis outbreak that has so far resulted in a total of 141 suspected cases and 12 deaths.

(Source: WHO 11 April 2023)

South Africa: Measles [Update]

11 April 2023

Health authorities in South Africa reported 911 Measles cases. Measles outbreak has been declared in all the provinces in South Africa except for the Eastern.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 April 2023)

South Africa: Rabies

11 April 2023

South Africa reported 2 Rabies cases from Limpopo and KwaZuluNatal (KZN) provinces. Both cases died from infection.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 April 2023)

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

11 April 2023

The City of São Paulo, Brazil has reported 2,015 cases of Dengue Fever year to date, which is the highest number of records of the disease (for the period between January and March) since 2019.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 April 2023)

Columbia: Dengue Fever

11 April 2023

Colombia reported 25,002 Dengue Fever cases, including 363 cases of severe dengue and 10 deaths, through the first three months of 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 April 2023)

Argentina: Dengue and Chikungunya Fever [Update]

11 April 2023

The National Ministry of Health reported that up to April 1, 28,235 cases of Dengue Fever and 915 cases of Chikungunya Fever were reported in Argentina.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 8 April 2023)

Brazil: Dengue fever, Chikungunya and Zika virus infection [Update]

11 April 2023

As of April 4, health authorities in Minas Gerais state reported 61,743 confirmed cases of Dengue fever, 13,757 confirmed cases of Chikungunya, and 14 confirmed cases of Zika virus infection.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 April 2023)

Philippines: Dengue fever [Update]

11 April 2023

The Philippines Department of Health recorded 27,670 Dengue Fever cases through March 18 this year, including 92 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 April 2023)

Philippines: Leptospirosis [Update]

11 April 2023

The Philippines Department of Health recorded 1,015 Leptospirosis cases through March 18 this year, including 85 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 April 2023)

South Korea: Mpox (monkeypox)

11 April 2023

South Korea reported first local transmission of Mpox, bringing the total number of cases to 6.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 April 2023)

Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique: Poliomyelitis

11 April 2023

Chad reported a circulating vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case from Logone Occidental, bringing its 2023 total to five.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported nine more cVDPV2 cases, and 12 cases involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1).

Also, Mozambique reported one cVDPV1 case from Zambezia, its first case involving the strain of 2023.

(Source: CIDRAP 10 April 2023)