Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News (16 June 2015 - 22 June 2015)
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 |
831 |
World Health Organization, 2 June 2015 |
Brazil |
1,021,004 |
World Health Organization, 12 June 2015 |
Cambodia |
704 |
World Health Organization, 2 June 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
30
246 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 19 June 2015 |
India |
3,816 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 May 2015 |
Japan |
101 |
National National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 16 June 2015 |
Lao PDR |
261 |
World Health Organization, 2 June 2015 |
Malaysia |
45,070 |
World Health Organization, 2 June 2015 |
Mexico |
30,497 |
World Health Organization, 12 June 2015 |
Philippines |
24,075 |
World Health Organization, 2 June 2015 |
Singapore |
3,782 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 18 June 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
15,490 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 18 June 2015 |
Thailand |
19,856 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 18 June 2015 |
Vietnam |
11,389 |
World Health Organization, 2 June 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.
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 22) closely monitoring three additional cases of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by
Korea.
According to the preliminary information of the health authority of Korea, they are:
* A patient who had contact with a confirmed case in Konkuk University Medical Center on June 6;
* A patient who had contact with another confirmed case in the emergency room of Samsung Medical Center from May 27 to 29; and
* A health-care worker of Dae-Cheong Hospital.
To date, 171 MERS cases have been confirmed by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 22 June 2015)
Ghana: Avian Influenza, poultry
Two poultry farms with a total of 3,600 birds at Denu and Keta in the Volta Region of
Ghana have been destroyed due to infection of the farms with highly pathogenic
Avian Influenza H5N2.
(Source: ProMED-mail 21 June 2015)
Brazil: Zika Virus Infection
Brazil recorded more than 24,000 suspected cases of Zika virus infection. The disease began in Camacari and has now spread to several municipalities in Bahia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 June 2015)
Mainland: Norovirus Infection
From September 2014 to March 2015, 23 outbreaks of
norovirus acute gastroenteritis occurred in Jiangsu province,
China. They were related to a new GII.17 norovirus variant.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,674 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,446 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 19 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,012 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,926 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 19 June 2015)
Thailand: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(Source: World Health Organization 18 June 2015)
USA: Pertussis
There have been 27 cases of
pertussis confirmed by Kansas Department of Health and Environment in Barton County this year. So far, there have been 143 total confirmed cases in
USA this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 June 2015)
Kazakhstan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 June 2015)
Argentina: Hantavirus Infection
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,675 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,445 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 18 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,990 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,922 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 18 June 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring three additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea. According to the preliminary information of the health authority of Korea, they are:
- A health-care worker who had contact with a confirmed case in Asan Cheongmoo Hospital from June 5 to 9;
- A health-care worker who had contact with two other confirmed cases in Samsung Medical Center; and
- A patient in Kyunghee University Hospital at Gangdong.
To date, 164 MERS cases have been confirmed by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 18 June 2015)
Brazil: Yellow fever
To date in 2015, the health authorities in Goiás, Brazil, have reported of total of five cases of yellow fever. Three deaths have been reported. The likely areas where infection was acquired were: Alto Paraíso, Niquelândia, São Miguel do Araguaia and Alexânia.
(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre 17 June 2015)
Singapore: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease [Update]
As of 13 June 2015, 14,237 cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease were reported to Ministry of Health of
Singapore.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,674 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,444 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,965 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,919 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 June 2015)
Taiwan: Avian Influenza, poultry
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 among poultries were reported in Taiwan.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 June 2015)
Current Travel Health News
Republic of Korea : Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
Between 13 and 16 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of 28 additional confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), including 8 death. To date
, a total of 154 MERS-CoV cases, including 19 deaths, have been reported to WHO by the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea.
(Source: World Health Organization 16 June 2015)
United Arab Emirates: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
On 15 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) notified WHO of 1 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
(Source: World Health Organization 16 June 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
Between 9 and 12 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Oman notified WHO of 3 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.
(Source: World Health Organization 16 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,678 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,444 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 16 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,965 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,919 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 16 June 2015)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
On 12 June 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 15 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with
avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, including 3 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 15 June 2015)
Brazil: Yellow fever, human
The State Department of Health (SES) confirmed on 1 June 2015 the third case of
yellow fever in Goias,
Brazil this year. To try to prevent cases in the city from increasing, the department is calling on residents and city visitors to take the vaccine at any health center.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 June 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring four additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea. According to the preliminary information of the health authority of Korea, they are:
- Three visitors who had contact with a confirmed case in the emergency room of Samsung Medical Center on May 27 and 28; and
- A patient who had contact with another confirmed case in a healthcare institution on June 5.
To date, 153 MERS cases have been confirmed by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 16 June 2015)
Russia: Tick-borne Encephalitis
Up to 9 June 2015, there were 139 registered cases of tick-borne encephalitis in Russia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 15 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,677 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,443 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 15 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 12,962 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,919 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 15 June 2015)