Travel Health Service Year 2015

Current Travel Health News

Take precautions against dengue fever when travelling abroad

As the dengue activity in southern Taiwan remains high, public are reminded to take anti-mosquito measures when travelling to the area and other Southeast Asian countries, in order to prevent dengue fever.

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	1,378	World Health Organization, 6 October 2015
Brazil	1,416,179	World Health Organization, 15 October 2015
Cambodia	5,274	World Health Organization, 6 October 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	791 24,507^{^}	Health Department of Guangdong Province, 21 September 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 16 October 2015
India	35,422	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 September 2015
Japan	229	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 13 October 2015
Lao PDR	1,316	World Health Organization, 6 October 2015
Malaysia	89,744	World Health Organization, 6 October 2015
Mexico	139,966	World Health Organization, 15 October 2015
Philippines	78,808	World Health Organization, 6 October 2015
Singapore	7,967	Singapore National Environment Agency, 15 October 2015
Sri Lanka	21,636	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 15 October 2015
Thailand	91,418	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 14 October 2015
Vietnam	39,547	World Health Organization, 6 October 2015

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
^ Cumulative local cases since this summer

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.

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,802 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,534 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 October 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,992 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,955 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 October 2015)

Brazil: Zika Virus Infection

15 cases of Zika virus infection were reported in Alagoas state of Brazil.

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 October 2015)

Ghana: Rabies

Between January and September 2015, 6 children have died from rabies in Accra of Ghana.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 October 2015)

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (October 13) was notified of two human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhejiang by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the cases comprise a male poultry worker aged 53 in Jinhua with onset on September 21, and a female farmer aged 55 in Huzhou who had poultry exposure with onset on September 18. Both are now in a serious condition.

From 2013 to date, 659 human cases of avian influenza A (H7N9) have been reported by the Mainland health authorities.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 13 October 2015)

Iraq: Cholera [Update]

As of 8 October 2015, a total of 1,263 confirmed cases of cholera were reported from at least 15 governorates of Iraq.