Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News(17 February 2015 - 23 February 2015)
Travel Safely during Chinese New Year - Watch out for Avian Influenza
Human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported in Hong Kong and the mainland China recently. Experts anticipated that the activity of avian influenza virus will be higher in the winter season. Severe infection can result in respiratory failure, multi-organ failure and even death.
The Chinese New Year is approaching. The Department of Health of Hong Kong appeals to all travellers to remain vigilant and take the following preventive measures:
- Before your trip:
- If you have flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath), postpone your trip until you have recovered.
- Bring along adequate face masks and alcohol hand-rub.
- During your trip:
- Do not visit live poultry markets and farms. Do not have direct contact with poultry, birds and their droppings. If contact has been made, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Cook poultry and egg products thoroughly before eating.
- Avoid crowded places and contact with fever patients.
- If you develop flu-like symptoms, put on a face mask and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
- After your trip:
- If you develop flu-like symptoms, put on a face mask, consult a doctor promptly and inform your doctor of your travel history.
- Do not bring raw meat (including poultry and game) without health certificate into Hong Kong.
The public should practise cough etiquette and maintain personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Please visit the
CHP's avian influenza page.
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 01/01/2014 *
|
Cumulative reported no.
of cases since 01/01/2014 |
Source of information and date of report |
India |
36,486 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 December 2014 |
Philippines |
113,485 |
World Health Organization, 10 February 2015 |
Vietnam |
31,848 |
World Health Organization, 10 February 2015 |
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 |
188 |
World Health Organization, 10 February 2015 |
Brazil |
40,914 |
WorldWorld Health Organization, 16 February 2015 |
Cambodia |
107 |
World Health Organization, 10 February 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
6
119 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 February 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 23 February 2015 |
Japan |
23 |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 17 February 2015 |
Lao PDR |
23 |
World Health Organization, 10 February 2015 |
Malaysia |
15,039 |
World Health Organization, 10 February 2015 |
Mexico |
3,718 |
World Health Organization, 16 February 2015 |
Singapore |
1,428 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 18 February 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
8,047 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 20 February 2015 |
Thailand |
2,730 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 18 February 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.
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 22) closely monitoring five additional human cases of
avian influenza A(H7N9) notified by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province (GDHFPC), and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. According to the GDHFPC, five male patients aged from 51 to 57 from Meizhou, Shantou, Jiangmen, Huizhou and Heyuan are hospitalised for treatment. Three of them are in critical condition, one in serious condition and one in stable condition.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 22 February 2015)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 21) closely monitoring an additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) notified by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province (GDHFPC), and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. According to the GDHFPC, the patient is a 48-year-old woman who lives in Shantou. She is currently hospitalised for treatment in critical condition.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 21 February 2015)
Australia: Hepatitis A
According to the Australian Department of Health, the number of Australians who have caught
hepatitis A after eating frozen berries has risen to 14 and spread to 4 states.
(Source: ProMED-mail 21 February 2015)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 20) closely monitoring an additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) notified by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province (GDHFPC), and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. According to the GDHFPC, the patient was a 78-year-old man who lived in Meizhou. He passed away on February 19.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 20 February 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,120 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,072 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 20 February 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of
Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in
Liberia is 9,096 including 3,947 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 20 February 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 11,155 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,423 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 20 February 2015)
India: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2015)
Panama: Hantavrius infection
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2015)
Philippines: Measles
As of 20 January, there were 58,010 suspected cases of
measles, including 21,420 confirmed cases and 110 deaths in the
Philippines during 2014.
(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 19 February 2015)
Vietnam: Measles
As of 20 January, there were 18,597 suspected
measles cases, including 6,498 confirmed cases in
Vietnam during 2014.
(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 19 February 2015)
Samoa: Chikungunya Fever
According to the Ministry of Health of
Samoa, more than 4,400 cases of
chikungunya fever have been reported as of 11 January.
(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 18 February 2015)
Mexico: Chikungunya Fever
Beginning in October 2014, locally transmitted cases of
chikungunya fever have been reported in
Mexico. As of 7 February, 206 cases have been reported in Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Sonora state.
(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 17 February 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Department of Health (DH) is today (February 17) closely monitoring five additional cases of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 17 February 2015)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, human
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 17) closely monitoring an additional human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) notified by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province (GDHFPC), and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. According to the GDHFPC, the female patient aged 33 in Guangzhou was hospitalised for treatment in critical condition.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 17 February 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,108 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,057 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 February 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of
Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in
Liberia is 9,007 including 3,900 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 February 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 11,103 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,408deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 17 February 2015)
USA: Measles [Update]
From 1 January to 13 February, 2015, 141 people from 17 states and Washington DC of
USA were reported to have
measles. Most of these cases are part of a large, ongoing multi-state outbreak linked to an amusement park in California.
(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 17 February 2015)
Brazil: Yellow fever
A 22-year-old man died in Brasilia last week due to
yellow fever after having contracted the disease in Goias state of
Brazil.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 February 2015)
Nigeria: Avian Influenza, poultry
Highly pathogenic
avian influenza (H5N1) has hit 3 local government areas of Bauchi State of
Nigeria with 14 666 birds affected by the disease, out of which about 4508 have been culled by government officials.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 February 2015)
Egypt: Avian Influenza, human
Egypt reported three additional cases of H5N1
avian influenza from Fayoum and Assiut governorate respectively. The two cases from Fayoum governorate died of the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 February 2015)