Travel Health Service Year 2015

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

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

1,305

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.

 

Jordan: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

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.

(Source: World Health Organization 1 October 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

Guinea has reported a cumulative total of 3,808 cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including 2,533 deaths.

(Source: World Health Organization 1 October 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

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

(Source: World Health Organization 1 October 2015)

 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

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.

(Source: World Health Organization 30 September 2015)

 

Vietnam: Avian Influenza, poultry

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

(Source: ProMED-mail 30 September 2015)

 

Iraq: Cholera

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

(Source: World Health Organization 28 September 2015)

 

Bulgaria: Anthrax

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.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 September 2015)

 

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

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.

(Source: World Health Organization 27 September 2015)

 

Guinea: Ebola virus disease [Update]

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

(Source: World Health Organization 25 September 2015)

 

Sierra Leone: Ebola virus disease [Update]

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

(Source: World Health Organization 25 September 2015)

 

USA: Tularaemia

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

(Source: ProMED-mail 25 September 2015)