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: Legionnaires' Disease [Update]

23 July 2026

In New York City, health officials gave a Legionnaires’ disease cluster update: 82 people have tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease, as of July 21. The death toll has risen to 5 in the Upper East Side cluster.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 22 July 2026)

Venezuela: Hantavirus Infection

23 July 2026

Venezuela’s Ministry of Health confirmed this Tuesday the deaths of three people in the eastern state of Anzoategui due to hantavirus infection.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2026)

Afghanistan: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

23 July 2026

The World Health Organization in Afghanistan reported a sharp increase in suspected Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) cases in June.
A total of 483 suspected cases of CCHF with 21 associated deaths (monthly CFR 4.3%) were reported compared to 176 cases and nine deaths reported in May. This shows a 174.4% increase in the number of suspected cases compared to the previous month.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2026)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Disease [Update]

23 July 2026

The response to Ebola continues with a strengthened mobilization in the provinces of Haut-Uélé, Ituri, Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu and Tshopo, where health teams continue surveillance operations, care for the sick and follow-up of contacts in order to contain the spread of the disease. According to the situation report published on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo now has a total of 2,423 confirmed cases. Among them, 734 patients are in isolation or hospitalized, 469 people have been declared recovered, and 967 have died. The case fatality rate stands at 39.9%.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 July 2026)

Costa Rica: Mpox [Update]

23 July 2026

In a follow-up on the mpox situation in Costa Rica this year, the Ministry of Health confirmed a third case of mpox in the country this year. The patient is a 37-year-old man from the province of Heredia, who is in stable condition and is complying with the mandatory isolation order.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 July 2026)