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

Burundi: Poliomyelitis

20 March 2023

Burundi health authorities declared an outbreak of Circulating Poliovirus Type 2 infection, with three confirmed cases detected in western Burundi.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 March 2023)

Nigeria: Diphtheria [Update]

20 March 2023

Between mid-May of 2022 and end of February of 2023, 1064 suspected cases of Diphtheria were reported from 21 states in Nigeria. Of suspected cases, 389 cases were confirmed and 62 deaths were recorded among all confirmed cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 March 2023)

Paraguay: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

20 March 2023

Paraguay reported 11,649 cases of Chikungunya Fever in the last three weeks.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 March 2023)

Russia: Anthrax

20 March 2023

As of March 15, two patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of Anthrax were hospitalized in the Chuvash Republic.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 March 2023)

Brazil: Dengue and Chikungunya fever [Update]

17 March 2023

The Ministry of Health of Brazil reported 301,800 probable cases of Dengue fever with 73 deaths, and 43,000 probable cases of Chikungunya including 1 death between January and early March in 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 March 2023)

Bolivia: Dengue Fever [Update]

17 March 2023

As of 16 March, Bolivia reported 15,212 cases of Dengue Fever including 46 deaths, with largest number of patients in Santa Cruz.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 March 2023)

Nepal: Measles

16 March 2023

Between 24 November 2022 and 10 March 2023, a total of 690 Measles cases, including one associated death (CFR 0.14%) have been reported from seven districts in western Nepal.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 March 2023)

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

14 March 2023

Health authorities in Minas Gerais state report 25,265 confirmed cases of Dengue fever, 7,555 confirmed cases of Chikungunya, and 5 confirmed cases of Zika virus infection.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 March 2023)

New Caledonia: Leptospirosis

14 March 2023

As of 28 February, New Caledonia recorded 65 cases of Leptospirosis including 1 death in both the southern and northern provinces.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 March 2023)

Kazakhstan: Measles

14 March 2023

The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan reports 56 suspected cases of Measles and 20 confirmed cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 March 2023)

Armenia: Measles

13 March 2023

The Armenia Ministry of Health reports 50 laboratory-confirmed Measles cases as of March 13 this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 March 2023)