Current Travel Health News

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	1,563	World Health Organization, 15 December 2015
Brazil	1,534,932	World Health Organization, 8 December 2015
Cambodia	14,005	World Health Organization, 15 December 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	1,312 42,268^	Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 9 October 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 18 December 2015
India	90,040	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 30 November 2015
Japan	274	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 15 December 2015
Lao PDR	1,730	World Health Organization, 15 December 2015
Malaysia	111,285	World Health Organization, 15 December 2015
Mexico	201,578	World Health Organization, 8 December 2015
Philippines	169,435	World Health Organization, 15 December 2015
Singapore	10,377	Singapore National Environment Agency, 17 December 2015
Sri Lanka	27,597	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 17 December 2015
Thailand	131,647	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 16 December 2015
Vietnam	58,633	World Health Organization, 15 December 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.

As of 5 December 2015, 1,761 suspected cases of microcephaly, including 19 deaths, have been identified in Brazil.

On 8 December 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic notified WHO of 2 additional polio cases.

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,807 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,536 deaths.

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 9, including 3 deaths.

As of 9 December 2015, 2 cases of polio have been reported in Myanmar.

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

According to the NHFPC, the cases comprise a male farmer aged 60 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and a male farmer aged 74 in Meizhou, Guangdong. They had poultry exposure history and are currently in serious condition.