Travel Health Service Year 2015

Travel Health News Digest (20 Janauary 2015 - 26 Janauary 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 01/01/2014 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2014	Source of information and date of report
Australia	1,434	World Health Organization, 29 December 2014
Brazil	590,852	World Health Organization, 13 January 2015
Cambodia	3,543	World Health Organization, 29 December 2014
Guangdong Taiwan	45,171 15,781	Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 15 December 2014 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 19 January 2015
India	36,486	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 31 December 2014
Lao PDR	1,695	World Health Organization, 29 December 2014
Malaysia	103,610	World Health Organization, 29 December 2014
Mexico	124,505	World Health Organization, 13 January 2015
Philippines	90,503	World Health Organization, 29 December 2014
Vietnam	17,766	World Health Organization, 29 December 2014

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
Japan	1	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 14 January 2015
Singapore	451	Singapore National Environment Agency, 16 January 2015
Sri Lanka	1,504	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 13 January 2015
Thailand	195	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 14 January 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.

Egypt: Avian Influenza, human

Health authorities in Egypt have confirmed two fatal human cases of H5N1 avian influenza from Minya province and Assiut province respectively.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 January 2015)

Vietnam: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Since the beginning of 2015, there have been more than 1551 cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease reported in Vietnam.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 January 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 2,871 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 1,876 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 January 2015)

Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]

The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia is 8,478 including 3,605 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 January 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 10,340 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,145 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 January 2015)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 6 and 9 January 2015, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) notified WHO of 5 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 January 2015)

India: Rabies

At Juhugaon of Vashi, India, a stray dog infected with rabies bit 16 people.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 January 2015)

Taiwan: Avian Influenza, poultry [Update]

A total of 60 outbreaks of H5N2 and 14 outbreaks of H5N3 highly pathogenic avian influenza were reported in Chiayi County, Yunlin County, Pingtung County, Changhua County, Kaohsiung of Taiwan.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 19 January 2015)

Mainland: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (January 19) closely monitoring an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Heyuan 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 3 clinically recovered and was hospitalised under observation.

(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 19 January 2015)

French Polynesia: Leptospirosis

Due to rainy season in French Polynesia, 6 cases of Leptospirosis have been reported since early January.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 January 2015)

Israel: Avian Influenza, poultry

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was reported in a turkey fattening farm in Hazafon, Israel.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 18 January 2015)

USA: Measles [Update]

The Measles outbreak linked to visiting 2 California Disney theme parks, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park, has grown to 33 cases in 4 states of USA.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 January 2015)

Oman: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 7 and 10 January 2015, Oman notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 January 2015)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Between 3 and 5 January 2015, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) notified WHO of 3 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 January 2015)

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