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

Italy: Avian Influenza

26 March 2026

The Italy Ministry of Health reports that the Lombardy Region has identified a case of infection with the low-pathogenicity avian influenza A(H9N2) virus of animal origin, in an individual with concomitant illnesses, who came from a non-European country (imported) where he contracted the infection, and is currently hospitalized. This is the first human case of H9N2 avian influenza detected in Europe.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 March 2026)

Latvia: Measles

26 March 2026

Latvia reports first measles outbreak since 2018. As of March 17, five measles cases have been registered in Latvia Two schoolchildren and one adult have been laboratory-confirmed to have measles, and two more schoolchildren are suspected of having the disease.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 March 2026)

Peru: Leptospirosis [Update]

26 March 2026

According to the Ministry of Health (Minsa), Peru, 1,045 cases of leptospirosis have been reported so far this year, distributed across 23 departments and Callao. Of these, 39% are confirmed cases and 61% are probable cases, with a cumulative incidence of 3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 March 2026)

United Kingdom: Cryptosporidiosis

26 March 2026

Officials with Public Health Wales are advising the public not to pick up, cuddle, or handle lambs during Easter and petting zoo attractions due to the risk of cryptosporidium. Last year, around 80 cases of cryptosporidium were recorded at one farm in South Wales alone.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 March 2026)

American Samoa: Leptospirosis

26 March 2026

Health officials in American Samoa issued a public health advisory last week due to an increase in leptospirosis cases this year. There has been six confirmed cases reported since January, including five cases identified in March.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 March 2026)

USA: Mpox [Update]

26 March 2026

Missouri state health officials report two cases of clade I mpox in adult Missouri residents. These are the first known clade I mpox cases in Missouri and the thirteenth and fourteenth cases nationally.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 March 2026)

Suriname: Chikungunya Fever [Update]

26 March 2026

In a follow-up on the chikungunya fever outbreak that was declared in Suriname in January, the Ministry of Health has confirmed a significant increase in the cases of chikungunya virus. Over 1,357 individuals have tested positive, confirming local transmission and one confirmed death and another being investigated.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 March 2026)