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: Measles [Update]

22 February 2026

According to measles data compiled by the Florida Department of Health, the state has recorded 92 total cases as of February 14, the third most cases in the country, behind South Carolina and Utah.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 February 2026)

South Africa: Measles, Rubella and Diphtheria [Update]

22 February 2026

The South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) reports from December 29, 2025 to February 8, 2026 (Epi Weeks 1-6) indicated that 307 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported nationally.

A total of 32 laboratory-confirmed rubella cases were reported in South Africa from data available from December 29, 2025 to February 8, 2026 (EPI Weeks 1–6) through fever-rash surveillance. Rubella cases have decreased nationally in comparison to the same period in 2025.

Between 1 January 2024 and 15 February 2026, 93 confirmed cases of respiratory diphtheria, two probable respiratory diphtheria cases and 62 asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. diphtheriae, detected during contact tracing, have been identified in South Africa.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 February 2026)

Cuba: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

22 February 2026

In 2025, Cuba reported 51,217 total chikungunya cases, including nearly 2,000 confirmed cases. In addition, 46 chikungunya related fatalities were reported by the end of 2025.