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

Sri Lanka: Dengue Fever [Update]

14 May 2026

In a follow-up on the dengue fever situation in Sri Lanka this year, officials with the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) report 27,754 dengue cases as of May 11, an increase in cases compared to 2025.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 May 2026)

Indonesia: Hantavirus

14 May 2026

Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that the government will continue to closely monitor close contacts of Hantavirus cases in the Jakarta area, Indonesia. The Minister of Health explained that the case currently being handled stemmed from close contact with a foreign national who had been on a ship overseas. The government acted swiftly after receiving information from British health authorities on May 7, 2026. The following day, on May 8, the patient was identified and immediately evacuated to the Prof. Dr. Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital (RSPI) for isolation.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 14 May 2026)

Bangladesh: Measles [Update]

14 May 2026

The Bangladesh Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) recorded 1,105 new suspected measles cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 51,567 through today. Health officials report 7,024 confirmed measles cases since Mar 15.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 May 2026)

Argentina: Chikungunya [Update]

14 May 2026

During the current season, 9,169 suspected cases of Chikungunya Fever were reported in Argentina, 1,544 of which correspond to confirmed and probable cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 May 2026)

Argentina: Dengue

14 May 2026

Since the start of the new season (2025/2026 Season. EW 31 to EW 16/2026), 22,071 suspected cases of dengue fever have been reported to the National Health Surveillance System, Argentina; Of these, 54 were laboratory-confirmed, with the circulation of DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3 detected. Fifty-six percent of these cases correspond to individuals with no history of travel.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 13 May 2026)

Brazil: Dengue [Update]

14 May 2026

In 2026, Bahia, Brazil, recorded a 41% reduction in the number of probable dengue fever cases. Up to the 18th Epidemiological Week (May 11th), 10,162 cases and four deaths were reported, while in the same period of 2025, 17,236 cases and five deaths were recorded.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 May 2026)

Chinese Mainland: Avian influenza

14 May 2026

A human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) the first week of May. The case is a 55-year-old female from Chongqing Municipality, in southwestern China, with symptom onset on 16 April 2026.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 12 May 2026)