Travel Health Service Year 2024

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.

Detailed information on the latest Dengue fever situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, can be found at the Centre for Health Protection’s website: https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf

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

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

12 April 2024

The Brazil Ministry of Health (MOH) reports now eclipsing the 3 million case mark in 2024, with official data showing 3,062,181 probable cases of Dengue since the beginning of the year.

In addition, 1,256 deaths from dengue have been recorded across the country since January 1. This tops the total for all of 2023 when 1179 deaths were recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 April 2024)

Czech Republic: Pertussis [Update]

12 April 2024

In a follow-up on the Pertussis outbreak in the Czech Republic, officials with the State Institute of Health report the whooping cough outbreak now stands at 6,397 total cases through April 7.

The number of children under the age of one infected has risen to 101.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 April 2024)

Cambodia: Mpox (monkeypox)

12 April 2024

Cambodia has detected 3 more cases of Mpox, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 17 so far, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on 7 Apr 2024.

The ministry also said that the majority of Mpox cases in Cambodia were recorded in the capital city of Phnom Penh, aged between 20 and 43 years old; of them, 5 were being treated at the hospital.

(Source: Vietnam plus via ProMed 9 April 2024)

Bangladesh: Dengue Fever [Update]

12 April 2024

So far, 1774 dengue cases have been reported since 1 Jan 2024.
Last year 2023, a total of 1705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.

(Source: The United News of Bangladesh via ProMed 11 April 2024)

USA: Hantavirus Infection [Update]

10 April 2024

A Sierra County, California, USA resident recently died of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a disease caused by a North American strain of Hantavirus known as Sin Nombre virus, which is transmitted by deer mice, according to Sierra County officials Thursday.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 April 2024)

Timor-Leste: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

10 April 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel notice for Timor-Leste due to outbreak of the mosquito-borne viral disease, Chikungunya in Timor-Leste. Nearly 200 chikungunya cases were reported through March.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 April 2024)

Peru: Leptospirosis

10 April 2024

3,590 Leptospirosis cases have been reported in Peru as of March 23. Thirteen percent of cases were confirmed, while 87 percent are classified as probable. The number of people affected is the highest in the last five years and 1.6 times more cases compared with the same period of last year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 April 2024)

Paraguay: Dengue Fever [Update]

10 April 2024

The Paraguay Ministry of Health reports in the past three weeks, 32,212 Dengue notifications have been recorded, of which 4,848 were confirmed.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 April 2024)

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

10 April 2024

Brazil surpassed more than 1,000 deaths from Dengue from January until April 3, the Ministry of Health reports. Through April 5, the total deaths amount to 1,078 confirmed.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 April 2024)

USA: Measles [Update]

10 April 2024

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 16 more Measles cases, raising the national total to 113.

(Source: CIDRAP 9 April 2024)

Vietnam: Avian Influenza [Update]

10 April 2024

Vietnam's health ministry over the weekend reported a human H9 avian flu case, which involves a 37-year-old man from Tien Giang province in the southern part of the country.

(Source: CIDRAP 9 April 2024)