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 |
1,089 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 2015 |
Brazil |
1,254,907 |
World Health Organization, 29 July 2015 |
Cambodia |
1,900 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 2015 |
Guangdong
Taiwan |
30
508 |
Department of Health of Guangdong Province, 26 May 2015
CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 31 July 2015 |
India |
5,874 |
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 June 2015 |
Japan |
131 |
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 28 July 2015 |
Lao PDR |
492 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 2015 |
Malaysia |
59,365 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 2015 |
Mexico |
55,620 |
World Health Organization, 29 July 2015 |
Philippines |
32,440 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 2015 |
Singapore |
5,360 |
Singapore National Environment Agency, 30 July 2015 |
Sri Lanka |
17,847 |
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 30 July 2015 |
Thailand |
39,597 |
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 29 July 2015 |
Vietnam |
16,183 |
World Health Organization, 15 July 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.
South Africa: Rabies
A human case of rabies was reported in South Africa. The case was an 8-year-old boy from Free State province.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 August 2015)
India: Malaria
17 cases of malaria have been reported since 23 July 2015 in Kerala, India.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 August 2015)
USA: Cyclosporiasis
At least 358 people in 26 states in USA have Cyclospora infection. Clusters of illness related to restaurant food have been identified in Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 August 2015)
Pakistan: Amoebic meningoencephalitis
12 deaths due to amoebic meningoencephalitis have been recorded this year in Sindh province of Pakistan. The amoeba is commonly found in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, ponds and canals.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 August 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,781 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,521 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 July 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 July 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,387 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,951 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 July 2015)
USA: Mumps
Six cases of mumps involving university students at the University of Missouri have been reported in Columbia, USA.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 July 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring eight additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including one death, reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). According to the WHO, they include six men and two women aged from 28 to 93 (median: 53), and five of them have underlying illnesses. Two are contacts of previously confirmed patients while one who died was a family member of a previously confirmed patient. One had frequent contact with camels and consumption of raw camel milk, one lives in an area with several camel farms, and one owns a camel farm. In addition, two previously confirmed patients died.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 30 July 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,785 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,521 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 30 July 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 30 July 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,379 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,951 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 30 July 2015)
Philippines: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
The Philippines Department of Health has recorded more than 600 cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in the last 7 months.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 July 2015)
Germany: Avian Influenza, poultry
An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H7N7 among poultry was reported in Germany.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 July 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,786 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,520 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 28 July 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 7, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 28 July 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,291 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,951 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 28 July 2015)
USA: Plague
The USA New Mexico Department of Health is investigating a probable case of plague in a 52-year-old woman who died of her illness.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 July 2015)
Canada: Pertussis
39 cases of pertussis have been reported in southern Bruce County, Canada.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 July 2015)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is closely monitoring six additional cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). According to the WHO, the six cases involve four men and two women aged 35 to 77, five of whom have underlying illnesses. They experienced onset of symptoms between June 17 and July 5. Four of the patients have a history of contact with camels while three of them had also consumed raw camel milk. The investigation into the remaining two patients' history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. All of the patients are currently hospitalised for treatment.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 24 July 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,787 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,517 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 24 July 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 7, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 24 July 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,264 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,949 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 24 July 2015)
India: Japanese Encephalitis
In the past 10 days, 13 fatal cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in Assam, India.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 July 2015)
USA: Leprosy
9 cases of Leprosy have been reported across Florid
a, USA this year. Each case has involved people who were in direct contact with armadillos.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 July 2015)
Russia: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
36 cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever have been recorded in the Stavropol region, Russia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 July 2015)
Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,783 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,512 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 22 July 2015)
Liberia: Ebola virus disease [Update]
The total number of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in Liberia after 9 May 2015 is 6, including 2 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 22 July 2015)
Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]
Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,250 cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,949 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 22 July 2015)
South Korea: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
Between 18 and 21 July 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of no additional cases of infection and no new deaths related to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). To date, a total of 186 MERS-CoV cases, including 36 deaths, have been reported.
(Source: World Health Organization 21 July 2015)