Travel Health Service Year 2014

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News Digest (19 August 2014 - 25 August 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

659,051

World Health Organization, 28 July 2014

Cambodia

1,520

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Guangdong

Taiwan

148

1,101

DepartmentDepartment of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 August 2014
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 25 August 2014

India

5,218

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 July 2014

Lao PDR

1,147

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Malaysia

53,246

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Mexico

39,269

World Health Organization, 28 July 2014

New Caledonia

105

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Philippines

35,264

World Health Organization, 12 August 2014

Singapore

13,543

Singapore National Environment Agency, 22 August 2014

Sri Lanka

27,585

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 22 August 2014

Thailand

19,425

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 19 August 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.

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 20 August 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 607 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 406 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 22 August 2014)

 

 Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 20 August 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 910 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 392 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 22 August 2014)

 

 Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 20 August 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 1082 including 624 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 22 August 2014)

 

 Nigeria: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 20 August 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Nigeria is 16 including 5 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 22 August 2014)

 

Vietnam: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N6 among pheasant was reported in a village in Lao Cai, Vietnam.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 22 August 2014)

 

Ghana: Cholera

The number of cholera cases reported in the Greater Accra Region in Ghana has increased from 3600 to 5000 with 45 deaths since July 2014.

(Source: Promed Mail 22 August 2014)

 

United Kingdom: Salmonella infection

United Kingdom has a national outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis. Regions involved include Hamsphire, London, Cheshire and Merseyside, and West Midlands. Total reported numbers have reached 247 cases, from 158 on 15 August 2014.

(Source: Public Health England 22 August 2014)

 

South Korea: Vibrio vulnificus infection

 

Health officials in Incheon, South Korea reported 2 fatal cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection. They contracted the disease after eating raw fish. In 2014, 10 cases have been reported throughout the country.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 August 2014)

 

South Africa: Avian Influenza, poultry

Four outbreaks of H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza virus infection were reported in Western Cape Province, South Africa in 2014. A total of 3781 birds were affected.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 19 August 2014)

 

Canada: E Coli infection

 

Alberta Health Services in Canada announced that 122 people across the province have been diagnosed with E Coli infection over the past month.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2014)

 

Denmark: Listeriosis

An additional case of Listeriosis was reported in Denmark. A total of 24 people have been affected and sausage was the main source of infection.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 18 August 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 579 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 396 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 August 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 18 August 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 907 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 374 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 August 2014)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 18 August 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 972 including 576 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 August 2014)

 

 Nigeria: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 18 August 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Nigeria is 15 including 4 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 August 2014)

 

Georgia: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

An additional case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was recently registered in  Shida Kartli region of Georgia.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 August 2014)

 

Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever


Two farmers in the Zhob district of Balochistan in Pakistan have died after suffering from Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 August 2014)

 

Azerbaijan: Brucellosis

About 200 cases of human infection with brucellosis have been registered in Azerbaijan from 2014.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 August 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 519 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 380 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 August 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 August 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 810 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 378 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 August 2014)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 August 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 786 including 413 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 August 2014)

 

Nigeria: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 13 August 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Nigeria is 12 including 4 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 August 2014)