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: Ebola Disease [Update]
3 August 2026
The
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health reports 34 additional confirmed
Ebola deaths during the past 24 hours, bring the death toll since the outbreak began 2 1/2 months ago to 1,621.
USA: West Nile Virus Infection [Update]
3 August 2026
Health officials in
Maricopa County, Arizona (aka the Phoenix area) reports a more than 62 percent increase in human
West Nile Virus Infection cases to date in 2026, according to county data.
Panama: Haemophilus influenzae
3 August 2026
The
Veraguas Health Region, located in the central-western region of Panama, confirmed a case of meningitis caused by the
Haemophilus influenzae bacteria in a 12-year-old student from La Primavera School, diagnosed on July 29.
Israel: West Nile Virus Infection
3 August 2026
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are reporting that a Tel Aviv resident has been diagnosed with
West Nile Virus Infection, the first confirmed case of the disease in
Israel in the summer of 2026.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Disease [Update]
3 August 2026
Declared on May 15, 2026, the 17th
Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, and the largest recorded Ebola virus disease outbreak in the country, continues to evolve amid a complex humanitarian and security situation. Initially confined to the Mongbwalu health zone (Ituri), it has spread to five provinces (
Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo), now affecting 49 health zones (Tshopo has reported a fifth affected zone, Wanie-Rukula).
Chile: Hantavirus
3 August 2026
The
Chile Ministry of Health issued a Health Alert for
hantavirus and other diseases, such as some arboviruses and avian influenza.
Vietnam: Dengue fever [Update]
3 August 2026
The
Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) recorded 995 cases of dengue fever the week ending July 27 (week 30), an increase of 20% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. The total number of
dengue fever cases accumulated from the beginning of 2026 to week 30 is 23,481 cases.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Disease [Update]
3 August 2026
The
Ebola virus disease outbreak in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has affected five provinces and 48 health zones.
Spain: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [Update]
3 August 2026
Health officials with Government of Castilla-La Mancha report a confirmed
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) case in the Puertollano health district of
Ciudad Real, south of
Madrid.
Philippines: Chikungunya fever [Update]
3 August 2026
In a follow-up on a report last week, the DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reports that
chikungunya cases in
Samar province are under control. 372 cases, primarily from the towns of Basey and Gandara, have been reported, and no further surge in cases is being seen.
China: Avian influenza [Update]
3 August 2026
In a follow-up to a report earlier this week, four new cases of human infection with
avian influenza A(H9N2) virus were reported by
China to the WHO in the Western Pacific Region during the period of 24 to 30 July 2026.
UK: Cyclosporiasis
3 August 2026
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reporting a sharp rise in
cyclospora cases among travellers returning from Mexico. The latest data shows that 67 cases have been reported in returning travellers in
England (30 cases)
Wales and (10 cases)
Scotland (27 cases) between 30 April and 15 July 2026; a sharp rise this year when compared to the annual average of 93 cases recorded between 2022 and 2025.
Philippines: Dengue fever [Update]
3 August 2026
Health officials in
Cebu report 1,228
dengue cases and 10 deaths from January 1 to July 18, marking a 12.35-percent increase from the same period last year (1,093 cases and three deaths recorded during the same months in 2025). The City Health Office (CHO) reports a sustained and widespread dengue transmission in
Zamboanga City with 1,184 cases recorded from January 1 to July 25, 2026. That’s a 20 percent increase compared to the 989 cases reported during the same period in 2025.
USA: Cyclosporiasis [Update]
3 August 2026
Through July 25, state health officials have reported 264 total
cyclosporiasis cases, including 161 acquired in
Florida, 20 acquired in other US states and 39 acquired outside the country. 44 cases are unknown as far as where it was acquired. 258 cases are confirmed while 6 cases are classified as probable.
France: Dengue Fever, Chikungunya Fever, West Nile Virus Infection
30 July 2026
As of July 27, 2026, two unrelated autochthonous cases of
dengue fever have been identified in the
Tarn and Hérault departments (Occitanie). One autochthonous case of
chikungunya has been identified in the
Tarn department (
Occitanie). This marks the first detection of chikungunya virus circulation in mainland France in 2026. As of July 27, 2026, two autochthonous cases of
West Nile virus infection have been identified in the
Pyrénées-Orientales (Occitanie) and
Bouches-du-Rhône (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) departments.
USA: Cyclosporiasis [Update]
30 July 2026
Federal health officials report yesterday that 6,707 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of
cyclosporiasis have been reported from 45 states since May 1.
USA: Dengue Fever [Update]
30 July 2026
The
Florida Department of Health in
Hillsborough County reports a confirmed human case of locally-acquired
dengue fever, the first in the state in 2026.
Chinese Mainland: Avian Influenza
30 July 2026
Three new cases of human infection with
avian influenza A(H9N2) virus were reported from
China, according to the World Health Organization. The first case is a 4-yearold male from
Guangxi Province, with symptom onset on 26 June 2026. The second case is a 4-year-old male from
Jiangsu Province, with symptom onset on 22 June 2026. The third case is a 44-year-old male from
Guangdong Province, with symptom onset on 26 June 2026. All three cases had exposure to live poultry.
Mauritius: Chikungunya Fever [Update]
30 July 2026
Since the beginning of the year and through mid-May,
Mauritius reported 6,675 confirmed
chikungunya cases and no deaths.
Nigeria: Dengue Fever
30 July 2026
The
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reports 95 total suspected
dengue fever cases during the first six months of 2026.
Brazil: Brazilian Spotted Fever
30 July 2026
The
São Paulo State Health Secretariat recorded 19 confirmed cases and 18 deaths from
Brazilian spotted fever this year, representing a case-fatality rate of 94.7%. Among the confirmed cases, probable sites of infection were identified in the regions covered by the Epidemiological Surveillance Groups of
Campinas (5 cases),
Piracicaba (3),
Sorocaba (3),
Santo André (1), and
São José dos Campos (1). The possible infection sites for the remaining cases are still under investigation.
USA: Mpox
30 July 2026
Arizona health officials report a confirmed travel-associated case of Clade I
mpox in an Arizona resident earlier this month. They report that the individual contacted it while traveling outside the country.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola Disease [Update]
30 July 2026
In a follow-up on the
Ebola Disease outbreak in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, 125 new confirmed cases, 51 confirmed deaths, and 15 recoveries were recorded. This brings the country’s Ebola outbreak totals to 3,200 confirmed cases and 1,405 deaths (43.9% case fatality rate), since May 15.
Guatemala: Measles [Update]
30 July 2026
The
Guatemala Ministry of Health reports 30,040 total confirmed
measles cases from the beginning of the year through July 24. The confirmed cases are broken down as follows: 7,830 laboratory confirmed, 3,394 confirmed by epidemiological link and 18,816 confirmed by clinical criteria.
Dominican Republic: Dengue Fever, Malaria
30 July 2026
The health ministry of
Dominican Republic reported that during the week ending July 11, three cases of
dengue were confirmed nationwide, and that the cumulative number of confirmed cases is 181 from the beginning of the year. Concerning
malaria, health officials say that the year-to-date total stands at 107 cases, showing a significant 84 percent reduction compared to the 644 cases recorded during the same period in 2015.
Brazil: Dengue Fever, Chikungunya Fever [Update]
30 July 2026
The Ministry of Health sent an alert to states and municipalities about the possibility of an increase in the transmission of arboviruses, such as
dengue and
chikungunya, due to the El Niño phenomenon. According to projections developed by InfoDengue/Fiocruz,
Brazil could register around 1.7 million cases of dengue in 2027.