Travel Health Service Year 2015

Current Travel Health News

Take precautions against dengue fever when travelling abroad

As the dengue activity in southern Taiwan remains high, public are reminded to take anti-mosquito measures when travelling to the area and other Southeast Asian countries, in order to prevent dengue fever.

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	1,486	World Health Organization, 17 November 2015
Brazil	1,485,397	World Health Organization, 18 November 2015
Cambodia	12,218	World Health Organization, 17 November 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	1,312 38,369^{^}	Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 9 October 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 27 November 2015
India	64,058	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 25 October 2015
Japan	262	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 24 November 2015
Lao PDR	1,641	World Health Organization, 17 November 2015
Malaysia	102,801	World Health Organization, 17 November 2015
Mexico	174,769	World Health Organization, 18 November 2015
Philippines	124,728	World Health Organization, 17 November 2015
Singapore	9,416	Singapore National Environment Agency, 26 November 2015
Sri Lanka	24,976	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 26 November 2015
Thailand	117,012	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 25 November 2015
Vietnam	39,410	World Health Organization, 17 November 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.

Ghana: Avian Influenza, poultry

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) have been reported in Greater Accra region of Ghana.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 November 2015)

Vietnam: Avian Influenza, poultry

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N6 avian influenza were reported in Central Vietnam.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 November 2015)

El Salvador: Zika Virus Infection

On 24 November, the National IHR Focal Point of El Salvador notified WHO of 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection.

(Source: World Health Organization 27 November 2015)

Brazil: Microcephaly

Up to 21 November 2015, 739 cases of microcephaly were reported in Brazil. It is suspected that these cases were associated with the infection by Zika virus.

(Source: ProMED-mail 26 November 2015)

Worldwide: Poliomyelitis [Update]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated the temporary recommendations regarding the international spread of poliovirus. States currently exporting wild poliovirus or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), i.e. Pakistan and Afghanistan, should ensure that all residents and long-term visitors (i.e. > 4 weeks) receive a dose of polio vaccine between 4 weeks to 12 months prior to international travel. For those undertaking urgent travel (i.e. within 4 weeks) who have not received a dose of polio vaccine in the previous 4 weeks to 12 months, should receive a dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure as this will provide benefit, particularly for frequent travellers. Travellers are provided with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis to record their polio vaccination and serve as proof of vaccination.

The WHO also encourages residents and long-term visitors of those infected countries which are not exporting wild poliovirus or cVDPV, i.e. Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Ukraine, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, to receive a dose of polio vaccine 4 weeks to 12 months prior to international travel. For those undertaking urgent travel (i.e. within 4 weeks) should be encouraged to receive a dose at least by the time of departure. Travellers who receive such vaccination should have access to an appropriate document to record their polio vaccination status.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 November 2015)

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,804 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,536 deaths.