Travel Health Service Year 2016

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 *

Cambodia	15,412	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
Philippines	200,415	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
Vietnam	97,476	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016

Cumulative reported number of dengue cases since 01/01/2016 *

	Cumulative reported no. of cases since 01/01/2016	Source of information and date of report
Australia	102	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
Brazil	116,966	World Health Organization, 24 February 2016
Guangdong	4	Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, 15 February 2016
India	1,055	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, 28 January 2016
Japan	33^#	National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, 23 February 2016
Lao PDR	96	World Health Organization, 9 February 2016
Mexico	8,448	World Health Organization, 24 February 2016
Singapore	4,340^{^}	Singapore National Environment Agency, 25 February 2016
Sri Lanka	9,362	Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, 25 February 2016
Taiwan	370	CDC, ROC (Taiwan), 25 February 2016
Thailand	8,651	Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, 24 February 2016

Remark:
* Dengue reporting systems vary by country.
^ Cumulative cases since 3 January 2016
# Cumulative cases since 4 January 2016.

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.

Trinidad and Tobago: Zika virus infection

Trinidad and Tobago confirmed its first case of Zika virus infection in a 61 year old female.

(Source: World Health Organization 24 February 2016)

Laos: Poliomyelitis

Between 6 and 16 February 2016, Lao People’s Democratic Republic notified WHO of 3 additional cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 February 2016)

Hong Kong: Avian Influenza, human

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health announced today (February 23) the investigation into the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong this winter, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

The male patient, aged 60 with good past health, lives and works in Suzhou, Jiangsu. He came to Hong Kong on February 5 and reported onset of fever, chills, rigor, cough and shortness of breath since February 8. He consulted a private doctor on February 10 and 11 who referred him to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) for management on February 11. Upon admission and laboratory testing by PYNEH, his specimen collected on February 12 preliminarily tested negative for influenza A. He was discharged on February 15. Clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and he has been in stable condition all along.

The man subsequently sought advice from another private doctor on February 18 and 22. Further testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch on his specimens taken on February 12 returned a result that was today confirmed as being positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. He has been admitted to the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre (HAIDC) in Princess Margaret Hospital today for further management.

The patient visited a wet market near his residence in Suzhou in which he reported no poultry contact.

Initial enquiries revealed the patient's afebrile son with sore throat since February 22, who has also been admitted to the HAIDC for observation this evening. To date, his wife has remained asymptomatic while tracing of the patient's other close contacts in Hong Kong is ongoing.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 23 February 2016)

Mainland: Zika virus infection

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health received notification today (February 23) of two additional imported cases of Zika Virus Infection in the Mainland from the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), and again urged the public, particularly pregnant women, those planning pregnancy and immunocompromised patients, to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures during travel.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 23 February 2016)

Mainland: Zika virus infection

The National Health and Family Planning Commission announced the third imported case of Zika virus infection in Mainland China. The patient was confirmed to have the infection after returning from Fiji and Samoa.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health 19 February 2016)

Qatar: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

Qater announced the first confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection in 2016.

(Source: Qatari Ministry of Public Health 21 Feb 2016)

Oman: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

Oman confirmed the death of one Omani due to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2016)