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.
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
Samoa: Dengue Fever [Update]
9 February 2026
The
Samoa Ministry of Health confirmed the recent death of a seven-month-old baby, bringing the total number of dengue-related deaths to eight since the outbreak was officially declared in April 2025.From 1 January 2025 to 1 February 2026, a total of 16,842
dengue fever cases have been confirmed across Samoa. During the period 26 January to 2 February 2026, there were 56 new cases reported, with 11 new hospital admissions.
Cook Islands: Dengue Fever
9 February 2026
There was a significant increase in
dengue fever cases on Rarotonga,
Cook Islands, at the end of December 2025 and again at the end of January 2026, as well as the detection of dengue cases on Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke and Mangaia. The Cook Islands also recorded its first dengue-related death in 2026.
USA: Measles [Update]
9 February 2026
The
Maine CDC announced Friday the first case of
measles in the state since 2019. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of February 5, there were 733 confirmed measles cases reported nationwide in 2026.
Bangladesh: Nipah Virus Infection
9 February 2026
Bangladesh officials report one confirmed case of
Nipah virus (NiV) infection in Rajshahi Division. This is the first NiV case/death of 2026. In 2025, four laboratory-confirmed fatal cases were reported from Bangladesh.
Suriname: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
9 February 2026
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel notice (Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions) for
Suriname, on the northeastern coast of South America, because of an ongoing
chikungunya fever outbreak. Suriname has reported 137 total chikungunya cases in January 2026.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Cholera [Update]
9 February 2026
A total of 2,318 cases of
cholera have been reported in South Kivu province of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the beginning of 2026, in just one month. Among these cases, the province has recorded 33 deaths.
Senegal: Rift Valley Fever [Update]
9 February 2026
Officials with the
Senegal Ministry of Health report the
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak that began in late September, is under control and concluded without escalation. From 20 September 2025 to 4 January 2026, a total of 561 confirmed human RVF cases, including 31 deaths, were reported from 41 districts across 11 regions of the country.
Japan: Influenza [Update]
6 February 2026
Tokyo has issued an
influenza alert for the second time this season. The average number of reported cases per sentinel medical institution in the fifth week (January 26–February 1) was 26.67. Nine out of 31 public health centers reached the alert level, and the population under their jurisdiction accounted for 37.16% of Tokyo’s total, exceeding the alert standard. Ninety percent of the virus types reported by 98 designated medical facilities in the fifth week were type B influenza (2,838 out of 3,165 cases).
USA: Measles [Update]
5 February 2026
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services have confirmed a second case of measles in 2026.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) identified five confirmed cases of measles in Lancaster County on January 30.
On 4 February, the South Carolina Department of Public Health said the state’s outbreak total is now 876, after adding 29 more cases since January 30 in an outbreak report.
Israel: Measles [Update]
5 February 2026
The
Israel Ministry of Health reports that a one-year-old unvaccinated baby with no underlying conditions died today from
measles complications. The death marks the 14th fatality in Israel due to the measles outbreak that began in May. In other fatal cases, most of those who died were healthy infants with no underlying conditions who were not vaccinated.
Costa Rica: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
5 February 2026
In a follow-up on the
chikungunya situation in
Costa Rica, The Ministry of Health reports the confirmation of a second positive case of Chikungunya in the country, following the results issued by the laboratory of the Costa Rican Institute of Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health.