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	1,305	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Brazil	1,390,779	World Health Organization, 25 September 2015
Cambodia	5,274	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Guangdong Taiwan	791 19,412^	Health Department of Guangdong Province, 21 September 2015 CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 2 October 2015
India	27,676	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 20 September 2015
Japan	210	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 30 September 2015
Lao PDR	1,183	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Malaysia	85,488	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Mexico	125,199	World Health Organization, 25 September 2015
Philippines	65,421	World Health Organization, 22 September 2015
Singapore	7,500	Singapore National Environment Agency, 1 October 2015
Sri Lanka	21,070	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 1 October 2015
Thailand	80,951	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 30 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.

Between 21 and 23 September 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Jordan notified WHO of 4 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 2,533 deaths.

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,928 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,955 deaths.

Between 20 and 26 September 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 6 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was reported in Ha Tinh province of Vietnam.

As of 23 September 2015, 120 confirmed cases of cholera were reported from at least five governorates of Iraq.

A fatal case of anthrax was reported in Dobrich, Bulgaria. The victim was a 73-year-old woman who was involved in the slaughter of a sheep.

Between 12 and 18 September 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 13 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,797 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,533 deaths.

Sierra Leone has reported a cumulative total of 13,855 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 3,955 deaths.

So far this year, 18 cases of tularaemia have been reported in Nebraska, USA.