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
Brazil: Pertussis
2 March 2026
Since February 13, the
Brazil Ministry of Health had deployed a task force to combat
pertussis in the Yanomami Territory in Roraima. Since the outbreak began on January 7, 16 cases of the disease have been identified and three deaths have been reported. Among the confirmed cases, four patients have already been discharged from the hospital.
Dominican Republic: Leptospirosis
2 March 2026
The
Dominican Republic Ministry of Health reported that during the first five epidemiological weeks of 2026, there has been a decrease in confirmed cases of
leptospirosis compared to the same period in 2025. According to official data, while one confirmed case was reported during epidemiological week 5 of 2025, no cases were reported during the same week of 2026. The cumulative total for 2026 is 17, while 28 cases were reported for 2025.
France: Measles [Update]
2 March 2026
According to Sante Publique
France, since January 1, 2026, 12 cases of
measles have occurred and been reported in the country.
Indonesia: Measles
2 March 2026
According to national data from the
Indonesian Ministry of Health, throughout 2025, there were 63,769 suspected
measles cases, with 11,094 laboratory-confirmed cases and 69 deaths. Meanwhile, in 2026, as of Week 7, there were 8,224 suspected measles cases, 572 confirmed cases, and 4 deaths.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Measles [Update]
2 March 2026
In a follow-up on the
measles epidemic in Kasai-Oriental province,
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), provincial health authorities reported 338 new measles cases during the last epidemiological week, confirming a significant resurgence of the disease in several health zones. Since the beginning of the year, DRC have reported 20,231 total measles cases and 238 deaths.
USA: Measles [Update]
2 March 2026
In a follow-up on the
measles situation in
Florida in 2026, state health officials now report 114 measles cases through February 21, with Collier County, on the southwest coast of the state and home to Naples, accounting for 83 of the total cases, 73%.
The City of El Paso Health Department, Texas, reported 17 measles cases in the area on Thursday, including 13 at the Camp East Montana Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, which is outside the City's jurisdiction.
The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 10 measles cases to date in 2026. In all of 2025, Minnesota saw 26 total measles cases, with seven classified as imported.
USA: Mumps
2 March 2026
Maryland state health officials report the confirmation of an increase in
mumps cases this year to date. The Maryland Department of Health reports a total of 26 cases reported in 2026, including 19 confirmed, through February 19.
Bolivia: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
26 February 2026
In a follow-up on the
chikungunya outbreak in
Bolivia, chikungunya cases in the department of Santa Cruz continue to rise. In recent days, the Departmental Health Service has confirmed nearly a thousand new cases. In the first seven weeks of 2026, Bolivia has recorded 5,518 total chikungunya cases, including 3,976 confirmed cases.
Mexico: Measles [Update]
26 February 2026
According to February 23rd data from the Mexico Ministry of Health, the state of
Jalisco recorded 667 confirmed
measles cases during the past week, rising from 1,995 to 2,662. Jalisco has recorded 59 percent of the confirmed cases since the beginning of 2026 (4,497 cases).
Israel: Measles [Update]
26 February 2026
The Ministry of Health in
Isreal reported yesterday on the death of a six-year-old boy from complications of
measles, who was not vaccinated. This is the sixteenth measles fatality in Israel since the outbreak began last year.