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

Malawi: Cholera

19 April 2023

As of April 15, 2023, the cumulative confirmed Cholera cases and deaths in Malawi is 57,786 and 1,736, respectively, with a case fatality rate of 3.0%.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 April 2023)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cholera and Measles

19 April 2023

In Haut-Katanga province in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a total of 563 cases of Cholera including 23 deaths were recorded in October 2022 to early April 2023.

Meanwhile, in the central part of the country, more than 700 cases of Measles including 13 deaths have been recorded in Kasai-Oriental province since January.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 April 2023)

USA: Hantavirus

19 April 2023

New Mexico state health officials reported the total Hantavirus cases in the state have risen to five after three people with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) were discovered within the last two weeks. One person died from the virus.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 April 2023)

Peru: Dengue Fever

19 April 2023

Until April 13, 43,121 confirmed and probable Dengue cases have been reported in Peru, with an upward trend. These figures include 42 deaths, of which 34 are confirmed and 8 are under investigation.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 April 2023)

Argentina: Dengue and Chikungunya Fever [Update]

19 April 2023

The National Ministry of Health reported that through April 8, 41,257 cases of Dengue Fever and 1,092 cases of Chikungunya Fever were reported in Argentina. This is an increase of 13,000 dengue cases in one week.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 April 2023)

Paraguay: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

19 April 2023

In the past three weeks, 10,057 Chikungunya cases were reported in Paraguay. Meanwhile, since October 2022 through April 14, 2023, 91 chikungunya deaths have been recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 April 2023)

Panama: Malaria

19 April 2023

In Panama, 3,124 diagnosed cases of Malaria have been registered so far, of which 94% are located in the following four areas: the East Panama Region, Darién, Guna Yala and the Ngäbe Buglé Region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 April 2023)

Philippines: Diphtheria [Update]

19 April 2023

From January 1 to March 25, health officials in the Philippines reported 33 Diphtheria cases, including 8 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 April 2023)

South Korea: Mpox (monkeypox) [Update]

19 April 2023

South Korea reported three additional local Mpox cases over the weekend, bringing the total cases to 13.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 April 2023)

Equatorial Guinea: Marburg Virus Disease [Update]

19 April 2023

One more Marburg Virus case has been confirmed in Equatorial Guinea's outbreak, involving a healthcare worker from Bata who was under monitoring after exposure to a previous patient. The new case raises the outbreak total to 16 confirmed cases, of which 11 were fatal.

(Source: CIDRAP 19 April 2023)