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	1,305	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Brazil	1,350,676	World Health Organization, 18 September 2015
Cambodia	5,274	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	791 16,074^{^}	Health Department of Guangdong Province, 21 September 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 25 September 2015
India	22,079	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 13 September 2015
Japan	200	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 24 September 2015
Lao PDR	1,183	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Malaysia	85,488	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Mexico	116,063	World Health Organization, 18 September 2015
Philippines	65,421	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Singapore	7,228	Singapore National Environment Agency, 23 September 2015
Sri Lanka	20,768	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 23 September 2015
Thailand	76,857	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 22 September 2015
Vietnam	36,097	World Health Organization, 22 September 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.

Kuwait: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring an additional fatal case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Kuwait, and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit. According to the WHO, the male patient, aged 78 with underlying illnesses, owned and had frequent contact with dromedary camels.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 24 September 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,801 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,533 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 24 September 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,846 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,955 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 24 September 2015)

Philippines: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

The Philippines Department of Health reported a total of 1,561 Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases from 1 January to 5 September 2015.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 September 2015)

Brazil: Zika Virus Infection

4 cases of Zika virus infection were reported in Mato Grosso of Brazil.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 September 2015)

Pakistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

9 fatal cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever were reported in Pakistan. The virus has spread through animal markets in Peshawar.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 September 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,797 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,532 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 21 September 2015)

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,811 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,955 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 21 September 2015)

Jordan: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring five additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including two deaths, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Jordan, and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit.

According to the WHO, the patients comprise two males and three females aged from 10 months to 78 (median age: 53). Among them, two are associated with an outbreak in a hospital in the capital of Jordan, Amman; two are contacts of one of the patients and the investigation into this patient's history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. Separately, two had underlying illnesses; one was a heavy smoker while another one was asymptomatic. In addition, one previously confirmed patient died.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 19 September 2015)

Portugal: West Nile Virus infection

Portugal notified the WHO of a confirmed human case of West Nile Virus infection. The patient was from the Algarve region.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 September 2015)