To guard against common and travel-related infectious diseases in the Lunar New Year holiday when travelling abroad, travellers are reminded to maintain strict hand, personal, food and environmental hygiene as well as to get vaccinated early.

Be alert of the following diseases

• Seasonal Influenza
• Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent
• Measles
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
• Dengue Fever

Seasonal Influenza

Globally, influenza activity continued to increase in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. The winter influenza is under way in the United States (US), Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, Mainland China, Macao and Taiwan.

Preventive measures

- Pay special attention to the influenza situations of travel destinations before departure.

- While travelling to areas with high influenza activity, adopt appropriate personal protective measures and take heed of personal hygiene and consider putting on surgical masks when staying in crowded or poorly ventilated public places.

- Seasonal influenza vaccination. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, receive influenza vaccine early for protection.

- Maintain good personal hygiene. Perform hand hygiene frequently. Cover mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing.

Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent

Severe respiratory disease associated with a novel infectious agent refers to pneumonia cases associated with the novel coronavirus occurring in Wuhan, Hubei Province. According to risk assessment of the World Health Organization (WHO), the reported link of this cluster of pneumonia to a wholesale fish and live animal market could indicate an exposure link to animals.

Preventive measures

- Avoid touching animals (including game), poultry / birds or their droppings.

- Avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms.

- Avoid making close contact with patients, especially those with symptoms of acute respiratory infections.

- Do not consume game meat and do not patronise food premises where game meat is served.

- Avoid visiting hospitals. If it is necessary to visit a hospital, put on a surgical mask and observe strict personal and hand hygiene.

Measles

There has been a global resurgence of measles since 2018. In 2019, outbreaks occurred in some places that had achieved measles elimination, such as Japan, Macao, New Zealand, the UK and the US. The incidence in some neighbouring countries was at a very high level last year, including New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand. The large outbreak in the Philippines has resulted in over 42 000 cases in 2019.

Preventive measures

- Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles.

- Travellers who are planning to visit places with a high incidence or outbreaks of measles should review their vaccination history and past medical history, especially people born outside Hong Kong who might not have received measles vaccinations during childhood. Those who have not received two doses of measles-containing vaccines, with unknown vaccination histories or unknown immunities against measles, are urged to consult doctor for advice on vaccinations at least two weeks before departure.

- Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy who are not immune to measles as well as children aged under 1 year who are not due for the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella-combined vaccine under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme should not travel to places with outbreaks of measles.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

Countries in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, continue to report MERS cases from time to time. Most of the cases reported in the Middle East had history of exposure to camels, consumption of camel milk or contact with other MERS patients.

Preventive measures

- Avoid going to farms, barns and markets with camels.

- Avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels.

- Avoid contact with animals, especially camels including riding camels or participating in any activity involving contact with camels.

Dengue Fever (DF)

DF is endemic in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. According to WHO, some Asian countries were experiencing unusually high numbers of DF cases in 2019. The numbers of cases in some countries, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, were significantly higher than the numbers in 2018.

Preventive measures

- To prevent mosquito bites, wear loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or exposed parts of the body.

- Travellers returning from areas affected by DF and the Zika virus infection should apply insect repellent for 14 days or at least 21 days respectively upon arrival in Hong Kong.

For more general tips on travel health, please click here.

For more information on the diseases, please visit webpage of the Centre for Health Protection.

Prevention of pneumonia and respiratory tract infection

How to clean our hands properly

How to wear a surgical mask properly

Prevent mosquito-borne diseases

Travel tips for the prevention of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

Know more about seasonal influenza

Let’s get influenza vaccination Protect yourself and others

Prevention of Measles