Current 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
30 November 2023
30 November 2023
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced Monday the detection of a single confirmed human case of Influenza A(H1N2)v. The individual concerned experienced a mild illness and has fully recovered. The source of their infection has not yet been ascertained and remains under investigation.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Mpox (monkeypox) [Update]
28 November 2023
USA and Canada: Salmonella [Update]
28 November 2023
A multistate outbreak of Salmonella illnesses linked to whole and diced cantaloupe has more than doubled in just 1 week, to 99 cases, has hospitalized at least 45 Americans, and has killed 2 people in Minnesota, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said late last week.
The outbreak has also affected at least 63 Canadians, killing 1, according to Canadian authorities.
Cambodia: Avian Influenza [Update]
28 November 2023
Health officials in Cambodia are investigating two new severe human H5N1 Avian Flu infections, pushing the country's total for the year to six cases.
The Cambodian health ministry announced the first case on November 23 on its Facebook page. The patient is a 21-year-old woman from Kampot province in the southwest. Her symptoms began on November 19, and she was hospitalized on November 23, where she is being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Officials said there were dead chickens at the woman's home and in her village.
Two days later the ministry announced a second case, which involves a 4-year-old girl who lives next door to the first patient. In the second translated statement from AFD, officials said the girl got sick on November 23 after holding a dead chicken. She was treated with Tamiflu, hospitalized on November 25, and is also being treated in the ICU.