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
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Anthrax
17 August 2026
Health authorities in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo report a case of
anthrax has been confirmed in a hippopotamus found dead in Vitshumbi, in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu.
USA: Anthrax
17 August 2026
Animal health officials in
Texas report
anthrax has been confirmed in a goat on an Edwards County premises earlier this week. This is the first confirmed case in Edwards County and second reported case of anthrax in Texas this year.
Philippines: Leptospirosis [Update]
17 August 2026
Officials with the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, the
Philippines report 84
leptospirosis cases, including 10 deaths, from Jan 4 to Aug 8, in the province this year. While the case count is lower than 2025 at the same period (100), the death toll has doubled (5). The Municipality of Tigbauan recorded the highest number of cases with six, followed by Janiuay, Dumangas and Tubungan with five cases each. Of the total cases, 32 were agriculture-related, making it the most common recorded exposure history. Flood-related exposure was reported in 18 cases, while another 18 cases were attributed to other types of exposure.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Malaria [Update]
17 August 2026
According to the
Democratic Republic of the Congo Deputy Director of the National Malaria Control Program, the country saw about 26 million
malaria cases and 30,000 deaths in 2025.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Disease [Update]
17 August 2026
In a follow-up on the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the fastest-growing on record, the Ministry of Health reports 62 new confirmed cases and 30 deaths (14 community deaths and 16 deaths within Ebola Treatment Centers) from
Ebola Disease were reported in the provinces of Ituri (41 cases), North Kivu (16 cases), Haut-Uélé (4), and Tshopo (1), over the past 24 hours. Ituri accounts for approximately two-thirds of the new cases.
From the start of the epidemic through August 13, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded a total of 4,727 confirmed cases, including 2,214 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 46.8%.
Ituri remains the epicenter of the epidemic, accounting for 85.0% of cumulative confirmed cases and 66.1% of new cases reported in the last 24 hours. Bas-Uélé has become the sixth province in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be affected by the Ebola epidemic.
Afghanistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]
17 August 2026
Afghanistan health officials reported an additional wild
poliovirus (WPV-1) case this past week, bringing the total confirmed cases to 16 in 2026 to date. This case is a two-year-old girl from the Sarkhom area of Tirinkot, Uruzgan province.
Costa Rica: Dengue Fever
17 August 2026
According to data from the Pan American Health Organization,
Costa Rica has reported a 33.5 percent increase in
dengue fever through July 31 this year. During the first seven months of the year, Costa Rica has seen 2,821 total dengue cases (1,916 confirmed). This compares to 2,113 total cases (1,547 confirmed). This is a 24 percent increase in confirmed cases.
France: Legionnaires’ Disease
17 August 2026
Health authorities with ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes have noted an unusual increase in cases of
Legionnaires' disease in Savoie,
France since June. Between June 1st and August 12th, 43 cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported to health authorities in Savoie: 36 cases reside in Savoie, 7 have stayed in the department.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever [Update]
17 August 2026
The
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,000 confirmed
Lassa fever cases from the beginning of the year through July 26, a 21 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025 (825).
South Korea: Malaria [Update]
17 August 2026
The
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 13th that it is issuing a nationwide
malaria alert following the detection of genes for Plasmodium vivax parasites in malaria vector mosquitoes (Anopheles species) collected in malaria-risk areas during the 31st week (July 27 – August 2, 2026). The detection of protozoa in vector mosquitoes (Anopheles species) means that the probability of contracting malaria increases when bitten by such mosquitoes.
Indonesia: Zika Virus Infection
17 August 2026
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for travelers to Bali,
Indonesia due to an increased number of cases of
Zika Virus Infection being reported in returning travelers. While local authorities have not declared a public health epidemic of Zika on the island, international health authorities reported small clusters of travel-associated Zika cases linked to Bali.
USA: Vibrio vulnificus Infection [Update]
17 August 2026
In a follow-up on the
Vibrio vulnificus infection situation in
Florida this year, state health officials report an additional case during the past week in Santa Rosa County. This brings the total in Florida to 15 cases in 11 counties. The death tally remains at two - Bay, Brevard, Hillsborough, Lee (2), Marion (2/1), Miami-Dade (2), Okaloosa, Palm Beach (2/1), Polk, Santa Rosa and St. Johns.
Bangladesh: Measles [Update]
17 August 2026
Bangladesh reported a total of 140,076
measles cases with 890 total deaths as of 13 August 2026.
France: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
17 August 2026
France reports as of August 10, 2026, five episodes of autochthonous vector-borne transmission have been identified in mainland France: Three
chikungunya fever episodes totaling 15 cases (1 to 8 cases per episode) in the Tarn (Occitanie) and Gironde (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) departments.
Italy: Chikungunya Fever
17 August 2026
From January 1 to July 31, 2026, the national arbovirus surveillance system of
Italy has recorded 17 confirmed cases of
chikungunya fever, all travel-related, no deaths.
USA: Dengue Fever [Update]
13 August 2026
Confirmed locally acquired
dengue fever cases in the Tampa Bay area has risen to 10, as the
Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County reported the eighth case today.
In addition, the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County reported two dengue local transmission in the Palm Harbor area earlier, bringing the total in the area to 10.
Italy: West Nile Virus Infection [Update]
13 August 2026
Since the beginning of the year, as of August 5, 141 confirmed cases of
West Nile virus infection in humans have been reported in
Italy, of which 64 were neuroinvasive (one case imported from the Maldives), 27 asymptomatic cases identified in blood donors, and 50 cases of fever (one case imported from Burkina Faso). Six deaths have been reported among the confirmed cases (one death from an imported case).
Mexico: Rickettsial Disease [Update]
13 August 2026
Dr. Gumaro Barrios Gallegos, Deputy Director of Epidemiology for the Chihuahua State Health Secretariat, reported that 90 confirmed cases of
rickettsiosis and 43 deaths have been recorded so far this year. He noted that this figure represents a significant increase compared to the same period last year, when 49 infections and 21 deaths were recorded, and explained that the situation has health authorities on alert.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Disease [Update]
13 August 2026
According to an official situation report from
DRC's Ministry of Health on the ongoing Bundibugyo
Ebola outbreak as of August 10, 2026, now the largest ever recorded in the country, spanning 53 health zones across five eastern provinces with Ituri as the main epicenter. Key statistics include 4,449 confirmed cases, 2,061 deaths (46.3% case fatality rate), 886 recoveries, and 716 patients in isolation, with South Kivu reporting 75 days without new confirmed cases and contact tracing at 82.7%.
Sri Lanka: Dengue Fever [Update]
13 August 2026
Since the beginning of the year, the
Sri Lanka National Dengue Control Unit of the Ministry of Health reports 90,306 cases of
Dengue fever though August 10.
USA: Vibrio vulnificus Infection [Update]
13 August 2026
The
Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has reported three
Vibrio vulnificus cases and no deaths so far in 2026.
Argentina: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
13 August 2026
According to the
Argentina Ministry of Health, during the current season, 13,230 suspected cases of
chikungunya fever were reported; of these, 3,618 were classified as confirmed, probable, or probable via epidemiological link.
USA: Mpox [Update]
13 August 2026
A San Diego County,
California resident has been confirmed positive for Clade I
mpox. Health authorities say the patient likely contracted the virus while traveling internationally to an area where Clade I mpox is circulating. The County is monitoring all identified contacts, and no one has reported symptoms.
Nepal: Japanese Encephalitis [Update]
13 August 2026
Health officials in
Nepal have reported nine deaths due to
Japanese encephalitis in less than a month, prompting officials to warn the public the numbers could rise as the peak season arrives. In the past few weeks alone, six people have died from JE virus infection in Koshi Province, two in Madhesh Province, and one in Lumbini Province.
Bangladesh: Dengue Fever [Update]
13 August 2026
The Directorate General of Health Services in
Dhaka reports 726 new
dengue hospitalizations in the past 24 hours, bringing the total cases to 20,071 through August 10.
So far in August 2026, 4,761 hospitalizations were reported. More than 9,200 cases were reported in all of July.