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

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles

8 January 2026

Kasai-Oriental province in south-central Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded 456 measles cases since December 15, including 61 in the last week of December alone, primarily affecting children under five across 19 health zones.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 January 2026)

USA: Measles [Update]

8 January 2026

The measles outbreak in South Carolina, centered around Spartanburg County, has risen to 211 cases, with 26 additional cases reported since last Friday, including exposures at two schools and a church.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 January 2026)

Ethiopia: Marburg Virus Disease

8 January 2026

Ethiopia has reported no new cases of Marburg virus disease over the past 21 days as of January 5, with the total outbreak in South Ethiopia Region since November 14 standing at 14 confirmed cases with 9 deaths and 5 recoveries.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 7 January 2026)