Travel Health Service Year 2023

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

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

 

Bolivia: Dengue fever [Update]

5 March 2023

Bolivian health authorities report the number of Dengue cases in the country have risen to 12,375 as of Friday, 3rd March 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 March 2023)

 

Bangladesh: Nipah virus infection [Update]

4 March 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a travel notice for Bangladesh. To date, 11 cases and eight deaths of Nipah virus infection have been reported.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 March 2023)

 

Nigeria: Diphtheria [Update]

3 March 2023

Between mid-May of 2022 and mid-February of 2023, 724 suspected cases of Diphtheria were reported from 20 states in Nigeria. Of suspected cases, 313 cases were confirmed and 89 deaths were recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 2 March 2023)

 

Togo: Meningitis

3 March 2023

A cumulative of 72 suspected cases of Meningitis and seven deaths were reported in Togo between late December 2022 and mid-February 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 2 March 2023)

 

Paraguay: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

3 March 2023

Paraguay reported 29,362 probable or confirmed cases of Chikungunya Fever since the outbreak began in October 2022. Further spread of the outbreak in Paraguay and to surrounding countries is possible.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 2 March 2023)

 

Mainland China: Avian Influenza [Update]

3 March 2023

Mainland China has reported a new human H5N1 Avian Influenza case, marking the second case in recent months. The patient is a 53-year-old woman from Jiangsu province who has a history of contact with poultry. The woman's symptoms began on Jan 31, and she was hospitalized on Feb 4.

(Source: CIDRAP 3 March 2023)

 

Mainland China: Avian Influenza

2 March 2023

This Avian Influenza (H5N6) case involves a 49-year-old man living in Qingyuan, Guangdong, who had contact with live domestic poultry before the onset of symptoms. He developed symptoms on December 17, 2022. He was admitted for treatment on December 21, 2022, and was in serious condition.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 1 March 2023;Government Press Releases 1 March 2023)

 

Mozambique: Cholera

2 March 2023

A Cholera outbreak with 5260 cases and 37 deaths have been recorded since September 2022.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 February 2023)

 

Ghana: Lassa Fever [Update]

2 March 2023

Ghana Health Service reports 12 additional Lassa Fever cases who were close contacts of the initial cases. This brings the total to 14 confirmed cases in the current outbreak. One death has been recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 1 March 2023)

 

Taiwan: Mpox (Monkeypox)

2 March 2023

Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported its first two locally transmitted cases of Mpox. The patients had not traveled recently and were not in contact with previous Mpox cases or each other.

(Source: CNA English News 1 March 2023)

 

Brazil: Dengue fever, Chikungunya and Zika virus infection

27 February 2023

Health authorities in Minas Gerais state report 13,802 confirmed cases of Dengue fever, 4,536 confirmed cases of Chikungunya, and 1 confirmed case of Zika virus infection.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 February 2023)

 

Philippines: Amebiasis

27 February 2023

Nearly 200 Amebiasis cases have been reported in 10 barangays (villages) from January (90) to February (100). San Carlos City government declared state of health emergency.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 February 2023)

 

Ghana: Lassa fever

26 February 2023

Ghana reports two Lassa fever cases in residents of Accra.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 February 2023)