Travel Health Service Year 2026

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

Mexico: Rickettsial Disease [Update]

5 March 2026

Sonora has accumulated seven deaths and 19 confirmed cases of rickettsiosis in 2026, as of February 21, according to official figures reported by the Director of Epidemiology for the State Health Department.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 March 2026)

USA: Measles [Update]

5 March 2026

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 10 measles (Total confirmed or probable) cases to date in 2026. All ten cases lack a travel history, hence, contracted it in the US. In all of 2025, Minnesota saw 26 total measles cases, with seven classified as imported.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 2 March 2026)

Madagascar: Mpox [Update]

5 March 2026

Madagascar reported its first death related to mpox since the disease was detected in the country last December, according to a report published Monday by the Malagasy Ministry of Public Health. According to the report, as of March 1, there are a total of 457 confirmed cases in the country.

(Source: Xinhuanet 3 March 2026)