Travel Health Service Year 2014

Travel Health News Digest (9 September 2014 - 15 September 2014)

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.

Travellers planning to travel in these areas should take precautions against the disease.

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2014 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2014	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,147	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Brazil	511,080	World Health Organization, 4 September 2014
Cambodia	1,520	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Guangdong Taiwan	148 2,048	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 August 2014 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 15 September 2014
India	5,218	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 July 2014
Japan	134	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 3 September 2014
Lao PDR	1,147	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Malaysia	53,246	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Mexico	54,807	World Health Organization, 4 September 2014
New Caledonia	105	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Philippines	35,264	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014
Singapore	14,651	Singapore National Environment Agency, 12 September 2014
Sri Lanka	29,663	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 12 September 2014
Thailand	22,903	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand,10 September 2014
Vietnam	9,331	World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.

Travellers should stay vigilant against dengue fever and adopt the following personal preventive measures against mosquito bite:

*	Always wear loose, light-coloured long-sleeved tops and trousers;
*	Stay in air-conditioned residence or places with mosquito screens;
*	If mosquito screen or air-conditioning is absent, aerosol insecticide and bed nets are advised;
*	Use insect repellents containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing;
*	Use insect repellents containing DEET apart from applying sunscreen while staying in beaches;
*	Re-apply insect repellents according to instructions during the trip;
*	Carry a portable bed nets and apply permethrin on it as well as to clothes if travelling to rural areas where dengue fever is prevalent.

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.

Japan: Dengue Fever [Update]

Japan reported 113 local cases of dengue fever. Most of the cases have been to Yoyogi Park and surrounding areas in Tokyo.

(Source: National Institute of Infectious Diseases 12 September 2014)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 7 September 2014, Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 861 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 557 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 12 September 2014)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 7 September 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 1424 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 524 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 12 September 2014)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 7 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 2081 including 1137 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 12 September 2014)

Samoa: Chikungunya Fever

There have been 433 cases of Chikungunya Fever in Samoa over the past month.

(Source: ProMED-mail 11 September 2014)

USA: Eastern Equine Encephalitis

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in USA announced the second human case of eastern equine encephalitis in the state.

(Source: ProMED-mail 11 September 2014)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 9 September 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 62 including 35 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 September 2014)

Moldova: Anthrax

In Moldova, 9 people contracted anthrax after processing an anthrax affected dead cow.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 September 2014)

Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

The second Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever case in 2014 was reported in Karachi, Pakistan.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 September 2014)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 6 September 2014, Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 862 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 555 deaths.