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

Czech Republic: Hepatitis A [Update]

12 March 2026

The State Institute of Public Health of Czech Republic reports from the beginning of the year to March 1, 643 people were infected with hepatitis A, of which 381 were men and 262 were women. "The South Moravian Region (216) recorded the most cases, followed by the capital city of Prague (175) and the Moravian-Silesian Region (76), where there are local outbreaks of hepatitis," according to epidemiologist Kateřina Fabiánová.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 March 2026)

Nigeria: Lassa Fever

12 March 2026

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is calling for strengthened state-level response measures as Lassa fever cases continue to rise during the peak transmission period of the dry season (November–April). During the first two months of 2026, Nigeria has recorded a concerning number of Lassa fever cases and deaths involving 18 states and 67 LGAs. Five states — Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, and Benue —account for 84% of confirmed cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 March 2026)

Vanuatu: Pertussis

12 March 2026

The Vanuatu National Surveillance Unit reports two new pertussis, or whooping cough cases during the past week. Both cases are from Tanna and required hospitalization. Both patients were discharged.
Since the middle of last year, the total number of hospitalised cases has increased to 67 and the cumulative total has increased to 807 cases (777 clinically diagnosed and 30 laboratory confirmed).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 March 2026)

Bolivia: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

12 March 2026

According to the Bolivia Ministry of Health, the national number of Chikungunya cases has reached 5,371, with the majority concentrated in the department of Santa Cruz, which has registered 4,371 cases, as of March 7.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 March 2026)

Madagascar: Mpox [Update]

12 March 2026

The Madagascar Ministry of Health reported an additional 55 laboratory confirmed mpox cases since late February, bringing the the outbreak total to 387 lab confirmed cases and no deaths since the outbreak began in December 2025. Cases have been reported in 27 of Madagascar's 114 health districts. Clade 1b was isolated from sequenced samples.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 March 2026)