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
Paraguay: Hantavirus
11 May 2026
In
Paraguay, the Western Region, or Chaco, is considered an area of confirmed rodent transmission of
Hantavirus. However, isolated cases have also been reported in departments of the Eastern Region, such as Concepción and Itapúa. Most cases affect young adult males, due to risky activities in rural and wild environments. In 2026, 3 cases have been confirmed, all in men: two from Boquerón (20-39 years old) and one from Presidente Hayes (15-19 years old).
Costa Rica: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
11 May 2026
The
Costa Rica Ministry of Health confirmed a new positive case of
chikungunya in the country, bringing the total to six in Costa Rica.
Canada: Legionnaires' disease
11 May 2026
Officials in the city of Hamilton in Ontario,
Canada report investigating a cluster of confirmed cases of
Legionellosis. There have been 13 cases reported to Hamilton Public Health since May 4, 2026.
Guam: Pertussis [Update]
11 May 2026
As of May 7, 2026, there have been 24 total
pertussis cases detected in
Guam – 23 laboratory confirmed, and 1 probable. Two (2) new laboratory confirmed cases were identified on 1 and 2 May 2026. One (1) case was reported hospitalized. No pertussis-related deaths were reported.
USA: Measles [Update]
11 May 2026
On Friday,
Maricopa County health officials reported an additional confirmed
measles case, bringing the total number to 14 in 2026.
USA: Rabies
11 May 2026
Last Sunday evening at Lake Henry in Mahwah,
New Jersey, a family fishing was attacked by a beaver who charged out of the water, biting an eight year old boy. Health officials said the beaver was captured, showing signs of illness, and tested positive for
rabies.
Japan: Measles [Update]
11 May 2026
Japan health officials reported 74 additional
measles cases since our last report, bringing the total cases to 436 as of April 30.
Vanuatu: Food Poisoning
11 May 2026
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel notice this week for the South Pacific archipelago of
Vanuatu due an outbreak of
ciguatera fish poisoning. As of the end of April, the Vanuatu National Surveillance Unit has reported a cumulative total of 112 cases across nine islands. Efate accounting for the largest proportion (63%).
Iraq: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
11 May 2026
A 43-year-old woman from
Kirkuk tested positive for
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, marking the first recorded case of the disease this year in the Governorate, according to a health official.
International (Cruise Ship): Hantavirus Infection [Update]
7 May 2026
Argentina health officials reported a
hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius. The vessel, carrying 147 passengers and crew from
23 countries, departed Ushuaia on April 1 and is currently off the coast of Cape Verde, which is coordinating the response. As of May 6, there are 8 cases among passengers and crew of the MV Hondius, including three deaths.
Switzerland: Hantavirus Infection
7 May 2026
The Federal Office of Public Health in
Switzerland reports a person has tested positive for
hantavirus. The man had returned from a trip to South America (MV Hondius cruise ship) with his wife at the end of April.
International (Cruise Ship): Hantavirus Infection [Update]
7 May 2026
On 2 May 2026, a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness aboard a cruise ship was reported to the World Health Organization. As of 4 May 2026, seven cases (two laboratory confirmed cases of
hantavirus and five suspected cases) have been identified, including three deaths, one critically ill patient and three individuals reporting mild symptoms. Illness onset occurred between 6 and 28 April 2026 and was characterized by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid progression to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock. Response measures, including case isolation, medical care, and investigations, are ongoing. WHO currently assesses the risk to the global population from this event as low.
Mexico: Measles [Update]
7 May 2026
The
Mexico Ministry of Health has reported three additional
measles deaths in 2026, bringing the year to date total to 13. In addition, this brings the total deaths since January 2025 to 40 in the country.
Samoa: Dengue Fever [Update]
7 May 2026
Dengue transmission continues in
Samoa as health officials report 159 new cases the week, including 27 laboratory‑confirmed cases, ending April 26. From January 2025 to the present, 18,559 total clinically diagnosed cases and 5,386 total confirmed cases. Nine deaths have been reported.
USA: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
7 May 2026
Florida state health officials report one additional travel associated
chikungunya case in
Miami-Dade County, country of origin is Bolivia. This brings the state total to 34 in 2026 and the 19th case in Miami-Dade County.