Travel Health Service Year 2015

Current Travel Health News

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 01/01/2015 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2015	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,089	World Health Organization, 29 July 2015
Brazil	1,254,907	World Health Organization, 29 July 2015
Cambodia	1,900	World Health Organization, 29 July 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	30 716	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 7 August 2015
India	9,874	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 July 2015
Japan	135	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 4 August 2015
Lao PDR	589	World Health Organization, 29 July 2015
Malaysia	67,944	World Health Organization, 29 July 2015
Mexico	55,620	World Health Organization, 29 July 2015
Philippines	40,593	World Health Organization, 29 July 2015
Singapore	5,592	Singapore National Environment Agency, 6 August 2015
Sri Lanka	18,290	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 6 August 2015
Thailand	42,900	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 4 August 2015
Vietnam	16,183	World Health Organization, 15 July 2015

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.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 28 and 29 July 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.

(Source: World Health Organization 6 August 2015)

USA: La Crosse Encephalitis

In North Carolina of USA, health officials reported a case of La Crosse Encephalitis affecting a child.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 August 2015)

[Editor’s Note: La Crosse Encephalitis is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. Seizures may occur in more severe cases. Children and the elderly are the most susceptible to the disease.]

Ireland: Mumps

There has been an outbreak of mumps in Ireland over the past 12 months with almost 2,000 cases.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 August 2015)

Thailand: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

A total of 1,666 cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease have been reported in Bangkok, Thailand this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 August 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,792 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,524 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 6 August 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 6 August 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,426 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,951 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 6 August 2015)

Spain: Chikungunya

On 31 July 2015, health authority in Valencia, Spain reported a confirmed case of chikungunya fever, which was the first locally acquired case in Spain.

(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre 5 August 2015)

USA: Legionellosis [Update]

To date, there were 7 fatal cases of Legionnaires’ disease and 86 have fallen ill in New York City, USA. The victims were older adults with underlying medical problems.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 August 2015)

Ukraine: Rabies

A fatal case of rabies has been reported in Kharkiv region of Ukraine. The 15-year-old boy was bitten by a cat.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 August 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,784 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,522 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 August 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 August 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,406 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,951 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 4 August 2015)

Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

A fatal case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was reported in Pakistan on 1 August 2015.

(Source: ProMED-mail 2 August 2015)

USA: Legionellosis

4 fatal cases of Legionnaires’ disease were reported in New York City, USA. The patients were older adults with underlying medical problems.

(Source: ProMED-mail 2 August 2015)