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 wer e 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

Nigeria: Lassa fever [Update]

13 March 2025

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory about Lassa fever today, necessitated by the recent confirmed case of Lassa fever with international travel to the UK.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 March 2025)

Pakistan: Naegleria fowleri

13 March 2025

Health officials in Sindh province report the first death from Naegleria fowleri, aka the brain eating amoeba, in Karachi this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 March 2025)

Brazil: Mpox

13 March 2025

The Brazil Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of infection by the Mpox clade 1b strain in Brazil. The patient had contact with a family member who had been in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 March 2025)

Tonga: Dengue fever [Update]

13 March 2025

Tonga health officials reported 13 new dengue fever cases on 10 March 2025, bringing the outbreak total to 194.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 March 2025)

USA: Measles [Update]

13 March 2025

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported two measles cases in the state. Texas state health officials report an addition 25 measles cases, bringing the Texas South Plains region outbreak total to 223, with 1 death confirmed. New Mexico outbreak case total is now 33, with 1 death under investigation. Vermont state health officials report a confirmed measles case in a school-aged child in Lamoille County.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 March 2025)

Philippines: Dengue fever [Update]

13 March 2025

The Philippines Department of Health now reports a total of 62,313 total dengue cases during the first two months of 2025. This is a 73% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 March 2025)

Panama: Oropouche Fever [Update]

13 March 2025

The Panama Ministry of Health reported that through the end of February, 221 cases of Oropouche Fever were registered in Darien, East Panama, and Metro Panama, and confirmed the first death from Oropouche Fever.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 March 2025)

Mozambique: Bacterial Conjunctivitis

13 March 2025

Health authorities in the northern Mozambique province of Cabo Delgado are reporting an outbreak of bacterial conjunctivitis. During 16 days in mid-February, a total of 1,275 cases of bacterial conjunctivitis were reported.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 March 2025)

Angola: Cholera [Update]

13 March 2025

Angola health officials now report 5,872 total cholera cases and 208 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 March 2025)