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	1000	World Health Organization, 1 July 2015
Brazil	1,244,842	World Health Organization, 10 July 2015
Cambodia	1,119	World Health Organization, 1 July 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	30 331	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 17 July 2015
India	5,874	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 June 2015
Japan	121	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 14 July 2015
Lao PDR	304	World Health Organization, 1 July 2015
Malaysia	53,823	World Health Organization, 1 July 2015
Mexico	41,044	World Health Organization, 10 July 2015
Philippines	28,600	World Health Organization, 1 July 2015
Singapore	4,778	Singapore National Environment Agency, 16 July 2015
Sri Lanka	17,022	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 16 July 2015
Thailand	31,927	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 15 July 2015
Vietnam	14,474	World Health Organization, 1 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.

Bulgaria: Anthrax

Health officials in Bulgaria reported a fatal case of anthrax. According to local media, the man handled infected beef.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 July 2015)

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

On 16 July 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 5 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, including 3 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 18 July 2015)

India: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

A 45-year-old woman from Kutch district of Gujarat state in India died of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever on 15 July 2015.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 July 2015)

South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 15 and 17 July 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of no additional cases of infection and no new deaths related to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). To date, a total of 186 MERS-CoV cases, including 36 deaths, have been reported.

(Source: World Health Organization 17 July 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,770 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,509 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 17 July 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 7, including 2 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 17 July 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,209 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,947 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 17 July 2015)

Brazil: Zika Virus Infection

The first case of Zika virus infection was reported in Parana of Brazil.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 July 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,762 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,506 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 July 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 16 July 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,209 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,947 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 July 2015)

India: Japanese Encephalitis

24 fatal cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in North Bengal of India since January 2015.

(Source: ProMED-mail 15 July 2015)

USA: Tularaemia

New Mexico, USA reported a human case of tularaemia.

(Source: ProMED-mail 15 July 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,760 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,506 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 July 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 7, including 2 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 July 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,209 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,947 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 July 2015)

Republic of Korea : Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 8 and 10 July 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of 2 additional confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). To date, a total of 186 MERS-CoV cases, including 35 deaths, have been reported to WHO by the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 July 2015)

India: Leptospirosis

15 leptospirosis fatalities were reported in Mumbai, India, in the past 10 days.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 July 2015)

Indonesia: Rabies

A 12-year-old girl in Bali, Indonesia, died of rabies last week. As reported, the girl was scratched by a pet cat.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 July 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,754 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,506 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 13 July 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 1 death.

(Source: World Health Organization 13 July 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,201 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,946 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 13 July 2015)