Current Travel Health News

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	872	World Health Organization, 3 June 2014
Brazil	483,516	World Health Organization, 12 June 2014
Cambodia	482	World Health Organization, 3 June 2014
Guangdong Taiwan	11 158	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 13 June 2014 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 30 June 2014
India	2,687	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 May 2014
Lao PDR	640	World Health Organization, 3 June 2014
Malaysia	33,456	World Health Organization, 3 June 2014
Mexico	25,862	World Health Organization, 12 June 2014
New Caledonia	286	World Health Organization, 3 June 2014
Philippines	21,690	World Health Organization, 3 June 2014
Singapore	8,461	Singapore National Environment Agency, 27 June 2014
Sri Lanka	17,102	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 27 June 2014
Thailand	9,663	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 25 June 2014
Vietnam	3,820	World Health Organization, 3 June 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.

From 2009 to 27 June 2014, 72 people in Baja California state, Mexico have died due to Rickettsial Diseases; 11 of these in the 1st 6 months of 2014.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam issued a warning about the increasing trend of Japanese Encephalitis cases.

A case of H5N1 avian influenza was reported in Minya, Egypt.

An outbreak of cholera affecting 1135 people was reported in Gaidatar, Nepal.

An outbreak of cholera affecting over 306 people including 7 deaths, were reported in the ancient city of Hadejia, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

The Department of Health (DH) is today (June 27) 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, four additional cases include:

* A woman aged 38 in stable condition, pending investigation on the source of infection;
* A man aged 45 who had no contact with previously confirmed patients or animals, or travel history;
* A man aged 57 with underlying illness who had daily exposure to camels; and
* A man aged 85 with underlying illness who had no contact with animals.

 In addition, two additional deaths were reported among previously confirmed cases.

Regarding the 113 cases (including 34 deaths) earlier identified through retrospective review and reported to the WHO by the KSA on June 3, further information revealed that 57 per cent of them are male while their age ranged from three months to 89 years with a median of 41 years. The WHO concluded that the disease pattern and risk assessment remained unchanged.

To date, 820 laboratory confirmed MERS cases have been reported to the WHO globally, including at least 286 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

The Department of Health (DH) is today (June 26) closely monitoring two additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.
 
According to the WHO, the cases include:

* A man aged 42 who died on June 18. He had no contact with previously confirmed patients or animals, or recent travel history; and
* A man aged 58 who travelled to Mecca for the Umrah pilgrimage and Egypt from May 31 to June 9. He had no contact with previously confirmed patients or animals.

To date, 703 laboratory confirmed MERS cases have been reported to the WHO globally, including at least 250 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

Taiwan CDC reported reported first case of Japanese Encephalitis in Changhua County in 2014. This was also the fourth confirmed case of Japanese Encephalitis this year.

As of 20 June 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 390 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 270 deaths. Cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola, Djingaraye, Kouroussa, Boffa and Télimélé.

As of 20 June 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 158 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 34 deaths.  Cases have been reported from Kailahun, Kambia, Port Loko, Kenema and Western.

As of 22 June 2014, the total number of clinical Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 51 including 24 deaths. Cases have been reported from Lofa, Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) affecting a man aged 51 hospitalised in Zhejiang as of yesterday (June 23).

A total of 435 cases were confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (139 cases), Guangdong (109 cases), Jiangsu (56 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Hunan (23 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Anhui (17 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Shandong (five cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Jilin (two cases), Guizhou (one case) and Hebei (one case).

As of 18 June 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 390 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 267 deaths. Cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola, Djingaraye, Kouroussa, Boffa and Télimélé.

As of 17 June 2014, Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 136 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 58 deaths.  Cases have been reported from Kailahun, Kambia, Port Loko, Kenema and Western.

As of 19 June 2014, the total number of clinical Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 41 including 25 deaths. Cases have been reported from Lofa, Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba.

On 18 June 2014, the National IHR Focal Point for Brazil reported the isolation of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) from sewage samples collected in March 2014 at Viracopos International Airport, in Campinas municipality in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. 

On 22 June 2014, officials in India announced 130 children died of suspected Japanese Encephalitis in Bihar.