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

United Kingdom: Measles

25 January 2024

There is a rise in Measles cases in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency reports that there have been 216 confirmed cases and 103 probable cases in the West Midlands since 1 October 2023 (as of 18 January 2024). Around 80% of cases have been seen in Birmingham, with about 10% in Coventry, the majority being in children aged under 10 years.

(Source: UK Health Security Agency 19 January 2024)

South Sudan: Yellow Fever [Update]

24 January 2024

The South Sudan Ministry of Health has reported a total of 20 Yellow Fever cases (1 confirmed, 19 suspected) in Western Equatoria state since the beginning of the year. The cases were reported from three counties—Yambio, Nzara and Tambura. Five fatalities have also been reported.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 23 January 2024)

Kazakhstan: Measles

24 January 2024

There was an alarming rise in Measles cases in the WHO European region (which includes parts of Asia), reflecting a more than 30-fold rise in 2023 compared to 2022. WHO Europe said more than 42,200 cases from 41 countries were reported for 2023, of which 13,677 were in Kazakhstan. Of the country's cases, 65% occurred in children younger than 5 years old and 70% occurred in people unvaccinated against measles.

(Source: CIDRAP 23 January 2024)