Current Travel Health News

Dengue fever is an endemic disease in most Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Travellers visiting these places are advised to protect themselves against mosquitoes all year round.

The recent dengue fever activity in Asia has been more severe. Various popular tourist attractions among Hong Kong people including Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia, observed recent persistent increase in the number of dengue fever cases. Other neighbouring Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan and India, also recorded rising dengue fever activities.

Outbreaks of dengue fever were observed in Guangdong province in China, Brazil, Costa Rica, Columbia, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic in the recent year.. It was expected that dengue fever activities will continue to rise in coming months in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

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

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2013 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2013	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,762	World Health Organization,15 January 2014
Brazil	1,451,432	World Health Organization, 13 January 2014
Cambodia	16,722	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
China   Guangdong province	2,900	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 January 2014
India	70, 767	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 December 2013
Lao PDR	44,171	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Malaysia	43,346	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Mexico	231,498	World Health Organization, 13 January 2014
New Caledonia	10,551	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Philippines	166,107	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014
Taiwan	874	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 27 January 2014
Vietnam	60,588	World Health Organization, 15 January 2014

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
Singapore	1,608	Singapore National Environment Agency, 24 January 2014
Sri Lanka	2,130	SingaporeMinistry of Health, Sri Lanka, 24 January 2014
Thailand	397	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 21 January 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 long-sleeved clothing 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;
*	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.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification on February 1 of two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhejiang from the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC). The two cases involve two men aged 54 and 80. They are now hospitalised for treatment.

As of February 1, a total of 275 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (113 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (36 cases), Guangdong (43 cases), Fujian (16 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Hunan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Guangxi (one case).

Additionally, the CHP received notification of a confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) in Guangxi from the NHFPC. The patient is a 75-year-old man who had poultry exposure. He was admitted to a hospital for severe pneumonia on January 29. His specimen tested positive for avian influenza A(H5N1) virus by the relevant Guangxi health authorities. He is currently in critical condition.

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health received notification on February 1 of two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Shenzhen and Zhaoqing from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The first case involves a 6-year-old boy of Hong Kong who lives in Shenzhen. Preliminary information revealed that the patient had onset of symptoms on January 27. He took self-medication. On January 28, he travelled to Hong Kong with his mother and relatives for a day trip. On returning to Shenzhen in the evening of January 28, he was found to have fever. Specimen taken from him tested positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus by the relevant Guangdong health authorities. The patient has mild symptoms. His current condition is stable.      Another case involves a 5-year-old boy in the Mainland who lives in Zhaoqing. His specimen tested positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus by the relevant Guangdong health authorities. He is currently under medical treatment in a local hospital and in stable condition.

As of February 1, 43 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in Guangdong.

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health received notification on January 31 of five additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangdong (four cases) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Hunan (one case) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The four cases in Guangdong involve three men aged 28, 59 and 82 and a woman aged 81. Among them, the 59-year-old man passed away on January 30 while the remaining patients are under treatment in hospital. The case in Hunan involves a man aged 38 who is now hospitalised for treatment.

As of January 31, a total of 271 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (111 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (36 cases), Guangdong (41 cases), Fujian (16 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Hunan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Guangxi (one case).

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification yesterday (January 30) of seven additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Jiangmen (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Zhejiang (four cases), Jiangsu (one case) and Guangxi (one case) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

As of yesterday, a total of 266 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (111 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (36 cases), Guangdong (37 cases), Fujian (16 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Hunan (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang) and Guangxi (one case).

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification on 29 January of five additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and in Zhejiang (three cases) and Fujian (one case) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The case in Guangzhou involves a boy aged 17 and he is currently hospitalised for treatment. The three cases in Zhejiang involve three men aged 37, 60 and 63 who are all under treatment in hospital. The case in Fujian involves a boy aged 2. He is now hospitalised for treatment. As of 29 January, a total of 259 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (107 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (35 cases), Guangdong (36 cases), Fujian (16 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Hunan (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

A fatal case of Hantavirus infection was reported in January this year in Argentina and a 29-year-old man was affected. He has been to Los Alerces National Park one week before the onset of symptoms.

A cholera outbreak in Kebbi State of Nigeria has led to the deaths of 3 people and several others being hospitalized.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification on 28 January of three additional human cases of avian Influenza A(H7N9) in Shenzhen from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province; and is also closely monitoring one and four additional cases respectively in Jiangsu and Zhejiang according to the latest reports of the Mainland health authorities, a total of eight additional cases. The three cases in Guangdong involved three women aged 31, 41 and 43 and they are all currently hospitalised for treatment. The case in Jiangsu involved a man aged 53 who is now under treatment in hospital. The four cases in Zhejiang involved two men aged 57 and 81 and two women aged 43 and 63. All of them are under treatment in hospital. As of 28 January , a total of 254 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (104 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (35 cases), Guangdong (35 cases), Fujian (15 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Hunan (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

The Ministry of Health reported 2 confirmed cases of Hantavirus infection in Lima, Peru.

Two outbreaks of H7N9 Avian Influenza were reported in Guangdong and Fujian, China. Of 185 chicken specimens collected in Guangdong, 2 were positive and 1200 birds were destroyed. In the Fujian province, 220 specimens were tested and one environmental sample was found positive for the virus.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification yesterday (January 27) of six additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Shenzhen (one case) and Jiangmen (one case) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province; and in Jiangsu (one case), Hunan (one case) and Fujian (two cases) from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The two cases in Guangdong involved a woman aged 77 and a man aged 68. The woman is currently hospitalised for treatment while the man died on January 25. The case in Jiangsu involved a woman aged 74 who is now under treatment in hospital. The case in Hunan involved a woman aged 58 who is still under treatment in hospital. The two cases in Fujian involved a man aged 69 and a woman aged 72, both of whom are now hospitalised for treatment.

 As of yesterday, a total of 246 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (100 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Jiangsu (34 cases), Guangdong (32 cases), Fujian (15 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Beijing (three cases), Hunan (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Hebei (one case) and Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang).

WHO has been notified of two additional laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 180 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 77 deaths.