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

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles

27 April 2023

Since the beginning of this year, more than 150 Measles-related deaths have been recorded and more than 5,000 Measles cases reported in Sankuru, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 April 2023)

Kyrgyzstan: Measles

27 April 2023

National Immunization Center Director reported that 200 Measles cases were registered in Kyrgyzstan in 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 April 2023)

Vanuatu, New Caledonia: Leptospirosis [Update]

26 April 2023

Between 31 March and 16 April 2023, 7 new Leptospirosis cases were reported in Vanuatu, bringing the total to 59 leptospirosis cases recorded since the beginning of the year. A total of 6 deaths were recorded.

As of 16 April 2023, 101 Leptospirosis cases were reported in New Caledonia since the 01 January 2023 with 6 new cases in April. Since the beginning of the year 2 deaths have been recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 April 2023)

Brazil: Malaria

26 April 2023

In 2022, 129.1 thousand Malaria cases were registered in Brazil, with a reduction of 8.1% compared to 2021. Regarding deaths, Brazil recorded 37 deaths from the disease in 2019, 51 in 2020, 58 in 2021 and 50 deaths in 2022.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 April 2023)

Tanzania: Marburg Virus Disease [Update]

25 April 2023

As of 16 Apr 2023, nine cases and six deaths of Marburg Virus Disease (CFR 66.7%) have been reported in Tanzania. All cases were reported from the Bukoba Rural district in Kagera Region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 April 2023)

Equatorial Guinea: Marburg Virus Disease [Update]

25 April 2023

Equatorial Guinea reported an additional confirmed Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) case in Bata, bringing the total confirmed cases nationally to 17 and the 11th confirmed case in Bata. The number of MVD deaths in confirmed cases has risen to 12 (CFR 70.5%).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 23 April 2023)

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

25 April 2023

Through April 24, Minas Gerais in Brazil has registered 102,537 confirmed Dengue cases, including 49 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 April 2023)

Uruguay: Chikungunya Fever

25 April 2023

The Uruguay Ministry of Public Health reports a Chikungunya outbreak in the city of Paysandú with 7 cases registered. Health officials say Chikungunya virus infection was confirmed in people with no travel history residing in the city. This is the first time Chikungunya virus circulation has been reported in the city.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 23 April 2023)

Paraguay: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

25 April 2023

Since the beginning of the year, Paraguay has reported 72,022 confirmed and probable Chikungunya cases with 32,850 reported in Central and 16,660 in Asunción. The chikungunya death toll has risen to 115 with 64 percent of deaths reported in Central.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 23 April 2023)

Argentina: Dengue Fever [Update]

25 April 2023

The Argentina National Ministry of Health reported 56,324 cases of Dengue in the country through April 15, including 39 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 April 2023)

Costa Rica: Dengue Fever

25 April 2023

Through March 25, Costa Rica reported a total of 974 Dengue cases with Caribbean region reporting the most with 337.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 April 2023)

South Korea: Mpox (monkeypox) [Update]

25 April 2023

South Korea reported 10 additional local Mpox cases, bringing the total cases to 30.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 April 2023)

Philippines: Measles [Update]

25 April 2023

Health officials in the Philippines report 308 Measles cases from January 1 to April 1, a 328 percent increase over the 72 cases reported during the same period in 2022.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 April 2023)

Taiwan, Japan: Mpox (monkeypox) [Update]

25 April 2023

The Taiwan CDC announced this week 15 new confirmed cases of Mpox were recorded (13 local cases and 2 imported cases).

The Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases reports 98 cumulative Mpox cases in 2023 as of April 12. Tokyo accounted for 80 of the cases, followed by eight in Osaka.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 April 2023)

Indonesia: Poliomyelitis

25 April 2023

A total of four confirmed cases of Vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) have been reported in Indonesia since November 2022.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 April 2023)

Malaysia: Dengue Fever [Update]

25 April 2023

In the week ending April 15, Malaysia health officials reported 2,399 Dengue fever cases compared to 2,339 cases in the week prior, which is an increase of 60 cases (2.6%). One additional dengue death was reported this week.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 April 2023)