Current Travel Health News

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	1,393	World Health Organization, 20 October 2015
Brazil	1,416,179	World Health Organization, 15 October 2015
Cambodia	5,274	World Health Organization, 20 October 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	791 28,744^	Health Department of Guangdong Province, 21 September 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 30 October 2015
India	64,058	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 25 October 2015
Japan	245	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 27 October 2015
Lao PDR	1,456	World Health Organization, 20 October 2015
Malaysia	96,222	World Health Organization, 20 October 2015
Mexico	139,966	World Health Organization, 15 October 2015
Philippines	108,263	World Health Organization, 20 October 2015
Singapore	8,431	Singapore National Environment Agency, 29 October 2015
Sri Lanka	22,432	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 29 October 2015
Thailand	98,403	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 28 October 2015
Vietnam	39,547	World Health Organization, 20 October 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.

Between 17 and 24 October 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 12 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,808 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,536 deaths.

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 14,066 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,955 deaths.

On 8 October 2015, the government of Laos notified the World Health Organization of a case of polio.

Over 150 fatal cases of Leishmaniasis have been reported in South Sudan.

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,804 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,535 deaths.

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 14,052 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,955 deaths.

Between 8 and 22 October 2015, 46 cases of chickenpox have been reported in Plovdiv Province of Bulgaria.

As of 20 October 2015, 181 confirmed cases of Leishmaniasis have been reported in Brazil this year.