Travel Health Service Year 2014

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News Digest (22 July 2014 - 28 July 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

1.057

World Health Organization, 15 July 2014

Brazil

659,051

World Health Organization, 23 July 2014

Cambodia

1,007

World Health Organization, 15 July 2014

Guangdong

Taiwan

18

407

Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 July 2014
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 28 July 2014

India

3,763

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 June 2014

Lao PDR

820

World Health Organization, 15 July 2014

Malaysia

44,518

World Health Organization, 15 July 2014

Mexico

36,383

World Health Organization, 23 July 2014

New Caledonia

111

World Health Organization, 15 July 2014

Philippines

31,088

World Health Organization, 15 June 2014

Singapore

11,641

Singapore National Environment Agency, 25 July 2014

Sri Lanka

23,355

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 25 July 2014

Thailand

14,145

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 23 July 2014

Vietnam

6,430

World Health Organization, 15 July 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.

 

India: Japanese Encephalitis [Update] 

A girl aged 10 died of Japanese Encephalitis in Arunachal Pradesh, India. In addition, 11 other people were also affected by Japanese Encephalitis.  

(Source: ProMED-mail 27 July 2014)

 

Nigeria: Ebola virus disease

The Ministry of Health of Nigeria has reported the first probable case of Ebola virus disease.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 July 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 23 July 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 427 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 319 deaths. Cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola, Djingaraye, Kouroussa, Boffa and Télimélé.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 July 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 23 July 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 525 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 224 deaths. Cases have been reported from Kailahun, Kambia, Port Loko, Kenema and Western.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 July 2014) 

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 23 July 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberiais 249 including 129 deaths. Cases have been reported from Lofa, Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 July 2014)

 

Iran & Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

The Department of Health (DH) is today (July 24) closely monitoring an additional case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Iran, and calls on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.

Iran
----
According to the WHO, the female patient aged 67 developed severe acute respiratory symptoms and was hospitalised on June 25. She died on July 5. During a previous hospitalisation for her underlying illness from June 6 to June 14, she had close contact with another patient with severe acute respiratory infection.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
-----------------------
In addition, three deaths among previously confirmed MERS cases were reported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

To date, 837 laboratory-confirmed MERS cases have been reported to the WHO globally, including at least 291 deaths.

Travellers, apart from avoiding contact with animals, especially camels (including riding camels or participating any activity involving contact with camels), or visits to farms, barns or markets with camels. Avoid consuming raw or uncooked animal products, including milk and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 24 July 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 20 July 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 415 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 314 deaths. Cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola, Djingaraye, Kouroussa, Boffa and Télimélé.

(Source: World Health Organization 23 July 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 20 July 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 454 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 219 deaths. Cases have been reported from Kailahun, Kambia, Port Loko, Kenema and Western.

(Source: World Health Organization 23 July 2014)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 20 July 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 224 including 127 deaths. Cases have been reported from Lofa, Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba.

(Source: World Health Organization 23 July 2014)

 

India: Japanese Encephalitis [Update] 

As of 22 July 2014, 102 people died of suspected Japanese Encephalitis in north Bengal, India.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 July 2014)

 

India: Scrub Typhus

Himachal Pradesh State of India had an outbreak of Scrub Typhus.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 July 2014)

 

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola virus disease

Suspected cases of Ebola virus disease have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). The suspected cases were in Aruu and other parts of north eastern DR Congo.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21July 2014)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 17 July 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 410 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 310 deaths. Cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola, Djingaraye, Kouroussa, Boffa and Télimélé.

(Source: World Health Organization 19 July 2014)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 17 July 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 442 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 206 deaths. Cases have been reported from Kailahun, Kambia, Port Loko, Kenema and Western.

(Source: World Health Organization 19 July 2014)

 

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

As of 17 July 2014, the total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 196 including 116 deaths. Cases have been reported from Lofa, Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba.

(Source: World Health Organization 19 July 2014)