Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (29 April 2014 - 5 May 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 |
615 |
World Health Organization, 22 April 2014 |
Brazil |
148,775 |
World Health Organization, 27 April 2014 |
Cambodia |
240 |
World Health Organization, 22 April 2014 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
3
72 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 April 2014
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 5 May 2014 |
India |
1,203 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 February 2014 |
Lao PDR |
410 |
World Health Organization, 22 April 2014 |
Malaysia |
27,562 |
World Health Organization, 22 April 2014 |
Mexico |
17,362 |
World Health Organization, 27 April 2014 |
New Caledonia |
186 |
World Health Organization, 22 April 2014 |
Philippines |
15,374 |
World Health Organization, 22 April 2014 |
Singapore |
4,909 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 30 April 2014 |
Sri Lanka |
8,150 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 29 April 2014 |
Thailand |
5,418 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 29 April 2014 |
Vietnam |
4,277 |
World Health Organization, 22 April 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: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (May 2) received notification of one additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The patient is a 53-year-old woman who lives in Shenzhen. She is currently hospitalised for treatment.
A total of 419 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (104 cases), Jiangsu (53 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Hunan (22 cases), Anhui (14 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 3 May 2014)
USA: Pertussis
There have been 298
pertussis cases reported in San Diego County, California of
USA in 2014, nearly 6 times reported this time in 2013.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 May 2014)
Uganda: Cholera
There was an outbreak of
cholera in the West Nile districts of Moyo and Adjumani in
Uganda.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 May 2014)
USA: Measles
13 outbreaks and 129 cases of
measles have been recorded in 2014 in
USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 May 2014)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
As of 1 May 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 226 clinical cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 149 deaths. Cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola and Djingaraye.
(Source: World Health Organization 2 May 2014)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
As of 2 May 2014, the total number of clinical
Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in
Liberia is 13 including 11 deaths. There have been no new clinical new cases in Liberia since 6 April.
(Source: World Health Organization 2 May 2014)
Taiwan: Avian Influenza, poultry
High pathogenic H5N2
avian influenza was detected in a sample taken from a wholesale poultry market in Taipei city,
Taiwan and that the batch of chicken was from a poultry farm in Yunlin County.
(Source: Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, 2 May 2014)
United States: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
On 2 May 2014, Centers of Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) announced the first laboratory-confirmed case of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States. On April 24, the patient travelled by plane from Saudi Arabia to London, then from London to Chicago. The patient then took a bus from Chicago to Indiana. On the 27th, the patient presented with shortness of breath, coughing and fever. The patient is currently in stable condition and is isolated in an Indiana hospital. CDC and Indiana health officials are tracing the close contacts of the patient.
Travellers, apart from avoiding contact with animals, especially camels, or visits to farms, barns or markets with camels, they should not drink raw milk, or consume food which may be contaminated by animal secretions or products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled.
(Source: Centers of Disease Prevention and Control, 2 May 2014)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (May 1), an additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) in Jiangxi according to the latest report of the Mainland health authority. The male patient aged 23 is now hospitalised for treatment.
A total of 418 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (103 cases), Jiangsu (53 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Hunan (22 cases), Anhui (14 cases), Jiangxi (eight cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 2 May 2014)
Egypt: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
On 26 April 2014, the Ministry of Health of
Egypt reported the first laboratory-confirmed case of infection with
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the country. The patient is a 27 year-old man who has been living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the past 4 years. The patient had contact with previously laboratory-confirmed cases.
Travellers, apart from avoiding contact with animals, especially camels, or visits to farms, barns or markets with camels, they should not drink raw milk, or consume food which may be contaminated by animal secretions or products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled.
The risk assessment on MERS published by WHO can be found on WHO’s website.
(Source: World Health Organization 1 May 2014)
Vietnam: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Since early in 2014,
Vietnam has had over 17 400
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities. The most cases are in Ho Chi Minh City with nearly 2700 cases,; the Southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau with over 1100 cases, an increase of 34 percent; Ca Mau province in the southern tip of Vietnam with 940 cases and the highlands province of Kon Tum at 112 cases.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 April 2014)
Nigeria: Cholera
The
Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has confirmed an outbreak of
cholera in 14 states, where it said 9006 cases were reported, with 106 deaths in the 1st quarter of 2014.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 April 2014)
Middle East: MERS - Risk assessment by the World Health Organization
Recent studies have shown that camels served as the primary source of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome infecting humans. Travellers when visiting Middle East should avoid contact with animals, especially camels.
Members of the public are reminded to take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene:
- Avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels;
- Avoid contact with animals (especially camels), birds, poultry or sick people during travel;
- Wash hands regularly before and after touching animals in case of visits to farms or barns;
- Seek medical consultation immediately if feeling unwell;
- Avoid visit to healthcare settings with MERS patients;
- Wash hands before touching the eyes, nose and mouth, and after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose
- Avoid drinking raw milk, or consume food which may be contaminated by animal secretions or products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled; and
- Wash hands before eating or handling food, and after using the toilet.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 28 April 2014)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (April 28) received notification of one additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) in Anhui from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The patient is a 55-year-old man who is currently hospitalised for treatment. A total of 417 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (103 cases), Jiangsu (53 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (22 cases), Hunan (22 cases), Anhui (14 cases), Jiangxi (seven cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 29 April 2014)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
As of 26 April, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 224 clinical cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 143 deaths. Cases have been reported from Conakry, Guekedou, Macenta, Kissidougou, Dabola and Djingaraye.
(Source: World Health Organization 28 April 2014)
Zambia: African Trypanosomiasis
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 April 2014)
Nepal: Malaria
As many as 103 cases of
malaria have been detected in Kapilvastu,
Nepal in the past 8 months.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 April 2014)