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 [Update]

24 July 2023

The Malawi Ministry of Health reported one additional confirmed Cholera case in Nsanje. The total confirmed cases is 58,941 since the first case was reported in March 2022. The total deaths due to cholera remains at 1,766 (3% CFR).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 July 2023)

Denmark: Pertussis

24 July 2023

An increase in the incidence of Pertussis, or whooping cough in Denmark during the months of May and June 2023 has been reported. The number of detected cases of pertussis is usually below 80 to 100 cases per month. But in the month of May, 104 cases were detected, and in June, at least 284 cases were detected.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 July 2023)

USA: Syphilis [Update]

24 July 2023

In Hawai‘i, the number of babies born with Syphilis — known as congenital syphilis — ranged from zero to four cases per year from 2000 to 2019, 12 cases in 2020, and 20 cases in 2021. Preliminary data indicates at least 22 cases in 2022. This dramatic increase in congenital syphilis cases is associated with increasing infections in adults.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2023)

USA: Malaria and Dengue Fever [Update]

24 July 2023

Florida state health officials reported one additional case of locally acquired Malaria this week in Sarasota County. In 2023, seven cases of locally acquired malaria have been reported in Florida, all in Sarasota County.

The Florida Department of Health also recorded one case of locally acquired Dengue this week in Miami-Dade County. In 2023, three cases of locally acquired dengue have been reported, all in Miami-Dade County.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 July 2023)

Bangladesh: Dengue Fever [Update]

24 July 2023

Health officials in Bangladesh report an additional 1,589 Dengue Fever cases and eight deaths on 17 July, bringing the total cases and deaths for 2023 to 22,467 and 114, respectively.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 July 2023)

Costa Rica: Hepatitis A

24 July 2023

According to health authorities in Costa Rica, an outbreak of Hepatitis A cases has been reported in San José, accounting for a total of 13 people with this virus, of which nine have been confirmed by the laboratory and four are pending results.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 July 2023)

Guadeloupe: Dengue Fever

24 July 2023

Since January 2023, the Guadeloupe of France have noted an upsurge in the number of Dengue cases in Guadeloupe. Around 425 clinically suggestive cases of dengue fever have been recorded since January 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 July 2023)

Costa Rica: Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and Zika virus infection [Update]

24 July 2023

Through June 25 this year, Costa Rica has reported a total of 2,712 cases of Dengue, with the Huetar Caribe region being the most affected with a total of 1,120, followed by the Central Pacific with 476 cases and the Central North with 463.

During the same period, a total of 23 cases of Chikungunya and six cases of Zika were recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 July 2023)

Columbia: Dengue Fever [Update]

24 July 2023

The Colombia Ministry of Health has reported 52,586 total Dengue Fever cases and 29 deaths through July 1.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 July 2023)

Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]

24 July 2023

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that Taiwan has recorded 478 local Dengue cases as of July 19 this year, which is the highest in the same period in the past 10 years.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 July 2023)

Vietnam: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Dengue Fever [Update]

24 July 2023

According to the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City (HCDC) in Vietnam, the number of cases and hospitalizations due to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) and Dengue Fever is increasing rapidly. Particularly in the most recent week (week 27), the whole city recorded 1,614 HFMD cases, an increase of nearly 2.5 times compared to the average 4 weeks ago of 716 cases.

In week 27, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 237 dengue cases, an increase of 32% compared to the average of 180 cases 4 weeks ago.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 July 2023)

Philippines: Malaria

24 July 2023

Health officials in Puerto Princesa, Palawan have reported a Malaria cluster in Barangay Irawan, the Philippines. 31 malaria cases were reported from April 26 to June 30. 24 cases were reported in Zone 14.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 July 2023)

Laos: Dengue Fever [Update]

24 July 2023

The Center of Information and Education for Health in Laos reports 11,176 total Dengue cases through July 14, including 6 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 15 July 2023)

Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad: Poliomyelitis [Update]

24 July 2023

Tanzania has reported its first Polio case due to vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), which involves a patient from Rukwa who had an acute flaccid paralysis onset of May 26. Genetic analysis suggests that the virus is linked to an isolate from Burundi. Two other African countries reported more cases, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which reported 16 more cVDPV2 cases and 8 more cases involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1). Also, Chad reported 5 more cVDPV2 cases.

(Source: CIDRAP 22 July 2023)