Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (14 October 2014 - 20 October 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 |
1,245 |
World Health Organization, 23 September 2014 |
Brazil |
534,787 |
World Health Organization, 7 October 2014 |
Cambodia |
2,349 |
World Health Organization, 23 September 2014 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
38,076
6,019 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 20 October 2014
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 20 October 2014 |
India |
5,218 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 July 2014 |
Japan |
306 |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 14 October 2014 |
Lao PDR |
1,432 |
World Health Organization, 23 September 2014 |
Malaysia |
72,603 |
World Health Organization, 23 September 2014 |
Mexico |
67,997 |
World Health Organization, 7 October 2014 |
New Caledonia |
105 |
World Health Organization, 23 September 2014 |
Philippines |
59,943 |
World Health Organization, 23 September 2014 |
Singapore |
16,322 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 17 October 2014 |
Sri Lanka |
33,159 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 17 October 2014 |
Thailand |
28,761 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 15 October 2014 |
Vietnam |
15,401 |
World Health Organization, 23 September 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.
Mainland: Dengue Fever [Update]
As of 20 October, a total of 38,076 cases of
Dengue Fever had been recorded in Guangdong, Mainland this year. Guangzhou alone reported 31,909 cases. The numbers of cases in other places in Guangdong are as follows: Foshan 3,191 cases, Zhongshan 543 cases, Jiangmen 439 cases, Zhuhai 397 cases, Shenzhen 276 cases, Zhaoqing 236 cases, Dongguan 229 cases, Qingyuan 183 cases, Yangjiang 183 cases, Zhanjiang 157 cases, Shantou 122 cases, Maoming 51 cases, Chaozhou 51 cases, Jieyang 45 cases, Heyuan 25 cases, Huizhou 16 cases, Shaoguan 9 cases , Yunfu 8 cases and Shanwei 6 cases.
(Source: Department of Health of Guangdong Province 20 October 2014)
Mainland: Dengue Fever [Update]
As of 19 October, a total of 37,545 cases of
Dengue Fever had been recorded in Guangdong, Mainland this year. Guangzhou alone reported 31,481 cases. The numbers of cases in other places in Guangdong are as follows: Foshan 3,158cases, Zhongshan 535 cases, Jiangmen 429 cases, Zhuhai 386 cases, Shenzhen 270 cases, Dongguan 224 cases, Zhaoqing 235 cases, Yangjiang 175 cases, Qingyuan 173 cases, Zhanjiang 155 cases, Shantou 116 cases, Maoming 51 cases, Chaozhou 50 cases, Jieyang 45 cases, Heyuan 25 cases, Huizhou 16 cases, Yunfu 8 cases, Shaoguan 8 cases and Shanwei 5 cases.
(Source: Department of Health of Guangdong Province 19 October 2014)
Oman: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 October 2014)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 1,519 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 862 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 October 2014)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 3,410 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 1,200 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 October 2014)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of
Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in
Liberia is 4,262 including 2,484 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 October 2014)
Mainland: Dengue Fever [Update]
As of 18 October, a total of 36,889 cases of
Dengue Fever had been recorded in Guangdong, Mainland this year. Guangzhou alone reported 30,945 cases. The numbers of cases in other places in Guangdong are as follows: Foshan 3,113 cases, Zhongshan 519 cases, Jiangmen 420 cases, Zhuhai 384 cases, Shenzhen 257 cases, Dongguan 214 cases, Zhaoqing 233 cases, Qingyuan 168 cases, Yangjiang 165 cases, Zhanjiang 155 cases, Shantou 114 cases, Jieyang 44 cases, Maoming 48 cases, Chaozhou 48 cases, Heyuan 25 cases, Huizhou 16 cases, Yunfu 8 cases, Shaoguan 7 cases and Shanwei 6 cases.
(Source: Department of Health of Guangdong Province 18 October 2014)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (October 18) received notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission of two cases of human infection of
avian influenza A(H7N9) affecting a woman aged 44 in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and a girl aged 7 in Beijing. The 44-year-old woman passed away last month.
A total of 440 cases were confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (139 cases), Guangdong (109 cases), Jiangsu (56 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Hunan (24 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Anhui (17 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Shandong (five cases), Beijing (five cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (one case) and Hebei (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 18 October 2014)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Department of Health (DH) is today (October 17) closely monitoring additional cases of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.
According to the WHO, seven new cases (including one death) were reported by the KSA between September 29 and October 11. The ages range from 50 to 77 and all are men. They had onsets of symptoms between September 17 and October 3.
Among the cases, six had underlying illnesses, five had possible or frequent animal contact or consumed raw camel milk/products, and one resided in an area with a heavy presence of camel farms.
In addition, four previously confirmed cases died.
Following a retrospective review of laboratory records, the KSA also reported 19 additional cases of MERS-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection occurring between August 2013 and May 2014, including 11 deaths. The ages range from 27 to 89 and 13 are men. Two of the reported cases were health-care workers (HCWs). The WHO concluded that the disease pattern and risk assessment remained unchanged.
To date, 877 laboratory-confirmed MERS cases have been reported to the WHO globally, including at least 317 deaths.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 17 October 2014)
Mainland: Dengue Fever [Update]
As of 16 October, a total of 34,920 cases of
Dengue Fever had been recorded in Guangdong,
Mainland this year. Guangzhou alone reported 29,415 cases. The numbers of cases in other places in Guangdong are as follows Foshan 2,967 cases, Zhongshan 497 cases, Jiangmen 396 cases, Zhuhai 346 cases, Dongguan 201 cases, Shenzhen 222 cases, Zhaoqing 186 cases, Yangjiang 148 cases, Zhanjiang 144 cases, Qingyuan 128 cases, Shantou 96 cases, Jieyang 41 cases, Maoming 42 cases, Chaozhou 38 cases, Heyuan 22 cases, Huizhou 15 cases, Yunfu 6 cases, Shanwei 5 cases and Shaoguan 5 cases.
(Source: Department of Health of Guangdong Province 16 October 2014)
USA: Eastern Equine Encephalitis [Update]
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 October 2014)
Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever [Update]
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 October 2014)
Somalia: Poliomyelitis [Update]
As of 11 August 2014, 5 cases of
poliomyelitis have been reported from
Somalia.
(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 9 October 2014)
France: Schistosomiasis [Update]
6 people were infected with
schistosomiasis on the island of Corsica of France. All of the travelers were exposed to the freshwater in the Cavu River
(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 9 October 2014)
USA: Ebola virus disease [Update]
USA reported another confirmed case of
Ebola virus disease (EVD). The case was also a healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the index patient.
(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 15 October 2014)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 1,472 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 843 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 15 October 2014)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 3,253 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 1,183 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 15 October 2014)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of
Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in
Liberia is 4,249 including 2,458 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 15 October 2014)
Mainland: Dengue Fever [Update]
As of 15 October, a total of 33,793 cases of
Dengue Fever had been recorded in Guangdong,
Mainland this year. Guangzhou alone reported 28,477 cases. The numbers of cases in other places in Guangdong are as follows: Foshan 2,896 cases, Zhongshan 484 cases, Jiangmen 389 cases, Zhuhai 321 cases, Dongguan 200 cases, Shenzhen 198 cases, Zhaoqing 180 cases, Yangjiang 141 cases, Zhanjiang 135cases, Qingyuan 123 cases, Shantou 93 cases, Jieyang 39 cases, Maoming 32 cases, Chaozhou 38 cases, Heyuan 20 cases, Huizhou 12 cases, Yunfu 6 cases, Shanwei 4 cases and Shaoguan 5 cases.
(Source: Department of Health of Guangdong Province 15 October 2014)