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

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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 August 2026)

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).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 August 2026)

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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 August 2026)

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%.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 August 2026)

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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 August 2026)

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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 11 August 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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 August 2026)

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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 August 2026)

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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 August 2026)

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.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 10 August 2026)