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

Republic of the Congo: Typhoid fever and Cholera [Update]

22 September 2023

The Ministry of Health and Population of the Republic of the Congo, declared on 17 July 2023 a suspected triple outbreak of gastroenteritis, with Typhoid Fever, shigellosis, and Cholera as probable causes. As of 29 August 2023, a total of 2389 suspected cases have been reported, including 52 deaths (overall CFR 2.2%). Suspected typhoid fever cases accounted for 50.2% (n=1200) of all cases, followed by shigellosis (46.9%; n=1120) and cholera (2.9%; n=69).

(Source: WHO 21 September 2023)

USA: Dengue Fever [Update]

21 September 2023

Florida state health officials reported four additional locally transmitted Dengue Fever cases in the past week in Miami-Dade County. This brings the total to 18 in the county and 23 total in the state this year to date.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 September 2023)

Philippines: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

21 September 2023

Philippines health officials report 1,409 Chikungunya cases through August 12 this year, a 213 percent increase compared to the same time in 2022 when 450 cases were reported. The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), in the northern Philippines, has seen the most cases with 372 year to date, a 18,500 percent increase from last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 September 2023)

Philippines: Leptospirosis [Update]

21 September 2023

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reports a total of 3,728 cases of Leptospirosis nationwide through September 2, a 70 percent increase compared to the same time in 2022. Of this total, officials say 87 percent of the leptospirosis cases were reported in males, particularly those who are 20 to 49 years old or those who go out to work (farming, etc).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 September 2023)

Vietnam: Diphtheria

21 September 2023

Dien Bien province in northwest Vietnam has recorded 3 Diphtheria outbreaks with 6 cases, including 1 death.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 September 2023)

Mainland China: Mpox (monkeypox)

21 September 2023

On September 8, Mainland China reported a batch of 501 new Mpox cases that were recorded in August, similar to what the country reported in July.

(Source: CIDRAP 21 September 2023)

New Zealand: Cryptosporidiosis

21 September 2023

On 20 September 2023, New Zealand health authorities reported 17 confirmed cases of Cryptosporidiosis in the Queenstown area. A source of infection has yet to be identified.

(Source: Health New Zealand Southern 20 September 2023)