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 and Uganda: Ebola Disease
18 May 2026
The World Health Organization (WHO) declares that the epidemic of
Ebola disease in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The Ebola disease is caused by Bundibugyo virus. As of 16 May 2026, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths have been reported in
Ituri Province of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo across at least three health zones, including
Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu. In addition, two laboratory confirmed cases (including one death) with no apparent link to each other have been reported in
Kampala, Uganda, within 24 hours of each other, on 15 and 16 May 2026, among two individuals travelling from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. A further case reported on 16 May, an individual returning from
Ituri to
Kinshasa, has tested negative for Bundibugyo virus on confirmatory testing by INRB, and is therefore not considered a confirmed case.
(Source: WHO 17 May 2026)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.