Current Travel Health News
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 |
1000 |
World Health Organization, 17 June 2015 |
Brazil |
1,021,004 |
World Health Organization, 22 June 2015 |
Cambodia |
704 |
World Health Organization, 17 June 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
30
261 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 26 June 2015 |
India |
3,816 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 29 May 2015 |
Japan |
107 |
National National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 23 June 2015 |
Lao PDR |
304 |
World Health Organization, 17 June 2015 |
Malaysia |
47,112 |
World Health Organization, 17 June 2015 |
Mexico |
33,671 |
World Health Organization, 22 June 2015 |
Philippines |
28,600 |
World Health Organization, 17 June 2015 |
Singapore |
4,026 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 25 June 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
15,905 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 25 June 2015 |
Thailand |
22,206 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 25 June 2015 |
Vietnam |
13,049 |
World Health Organization, 17 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.
Republic of Korea : Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
Between 24 and 26 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of 6 additional confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), including 4 death. To date, a total of 181 MERS-CoV cases, including 31 deaths, have been reported to WHO by the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea.
(Source: World Health Organization 26 June 2015)
United Arab Emirates: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
On 21 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
(Source: World Health Organization 26 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,720 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,480 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 26 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,093 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,931 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 26 June 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (25 June) closely monitoring one additional case of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and six additional MERS-affected health-care facilities newly reported by
Korea.
According to the latest appeal of the health authority of Korea, people who had visited the following health-care facilities during the specified periods and became ill should report to them for follow-up:
* 14/F, Paediatrics Unit of Hallym University Gangdong Sacred Heart Hospital at Gil-dong between 5 and 9 June;
* Jongro Guangmyung Pharmacy, Mokchasoo Internal Medicine Clinic at Sangil-dong between 10 and 12 June;
* Ilsundang Korean Traditional Medical Clinic at Sangil-dong on 12 June ;
* Smile Pharmacy, Bon Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at Godeok-dong on 15 June;
* Tuntun Pharmacy, Gangdong Neurosurgery Clinic at Myeongil-dong on 16 June;
* Withpharm Angel Pharmacy at Gil-dong on 17 June; and
* Hallym University Gangdong Sacred Heart Hospital at Gil-dong between the afternoon of 17 June and 22 June.
(According to the Korean authority, an English translation may not be the official English name. Please refer to the following webpage for the Korean names: www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/korean_hospital_list.pdf.)
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 25 June 2015)
Iran: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,718 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,480 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 25 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,083 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,931 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 25 June 2015)
South Korea and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 24) closely monitoring four additional cases of
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by
Korea and five additional cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
According to the preliminary information of the health authority of Korea, the cases in Korea are:
* A patient who was hospitalised in the same ward with a confirmed case in Konkuk University Medical Centre on June 6;
* A patient who had contact with another confirmed case in Samsung Medical Center during the period from May 27 to 29;
* A family member of a patient who was hospitalised in Bagae Hospital during the period from May 29 to June 6; and
* A healthcare worker who had contact with three other confirmed cases.
To date, 178 MERS cases have been confirmed by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.
Meanwhile, according to the WHO, the five cases in KSA involve two men and three women aged 28 to 69 who have underlying illnesses. They had onset of symptoms between May 23 and June 12. One patient has a history of contact with camels as well as consuming their raw milk, while three other patients had visited healthcare facilities with MERS outbreaks and the remaining patient's history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. All patients are currently hospitalised for treatment. In addition, five previously confirmed patients died.
To date, in addition to the laboratory-confirmed MERS cases involved in the outbreak in Korea, 1 172 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 452 deaths. Of note, 1 147 cases globally were confirmed in nine Middle East countries, including 1 031 in the KSA, 74 in the United Arab Emirates, 13 in Qatar, 12 in Jordan, six each in Iran and Oman, three in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon and Yemen.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 24 June 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,718 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,473 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 24 June 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,059 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,928 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 24 June 2015)
Peru: Yellow Fever
As of 16 May 2015,
Peru recorded a total of 13 cases of
yellow fever with 1 death in Cusco, Huanuco, Junin, Loreto, Puno, Madre de Dios and San Martin respectively.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 June 2015)
Peru: Rabies
The Ministry of Health of
Peru confirmed that 3 children died of
rabies in Napo District, Loreto region, after being bitten by bats.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 June 2015)
Egypt: Avian Influenza, human
A 40-year-old woman died of H5N1
avian influenza in Upper
Egypt's governorate of Sohag on 23 June 2015.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 June 2015)
India: Anthrax
Three persons died due to
anthrax while 6 others were affected by the disease in Koraput district of
India in the last week.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 June 2015)
Kyrgyzstan: Anthrax
At least 6 people were infected with
anthrax in
Kyrgyzstan in 2015.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 June 2015)
South Sudan: Cholera
An outbreak of
cholera was reported in Juba County,
South Sudan. As of 23 June, 170 suspected cholera cases including 18 deaths have been reported.
(Source: World Health Organization 23 June 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 23) 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 personal caregiver of a patient related to Kyunghee University Hospital at Gangdong;
* An out-patient related to Samsung Medical Center; and
* A family member of a patient related to Pyeongtaek Good Morning Hospital.
To date, 174 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 23 June 2015)
USA: Plague
A fatal case of
plague has been detected in Larimer County, Colorado,
USA affecting a 16-year-old gentleman.
(Source: ProMED-mail 23 June 2015)
Bolivia: Hantavirus Infection
So far in 2015, 8 cases of
hantavirus infections have been reported in Bermejo and Padcaya municipalities of Tarija,
Bolivia with 1 death due to this disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 23 June 2015)
India: Malaria
From January to April this year, Mapusa town of Goa,
India has detected an increase in the cases of vector borne diseases with 650
malaria cases reported. Moreover, 3,438 malaria cases have been registered so far this year in Visakhapatnam district.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22&24 June 2015)
Madagascar: Malaria
Between January and the end of May 2015, 212,923 people contracted
malaria and 187 deaths were recorded in
Madagascar.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 June 2015)