Travel Health Service Year 2023

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. 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.

For more information on dengue fever, including the latest situation in neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, please visit the Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpage at https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/38847.html

Take precautions against Mpox (also known as monkeypox) when travelling abroad

Mpox (also known as monkeypox) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mpox virus. Often found in tropical forest regions of Central and West Africa. It is mainly transmitted by contact with infected animals, human-to-human transmission is limited. Incubation period is mainly from 6 to 13 days, symptoms are similar with Smallpox infection, but less severe.

Since 6 May 2022, multiple outbreaks were reported in Europe and North America countries, and many patient are self-identified as bisexual or men who have sex with men. Travellers planning to travel in these areas should avoid contact with infected person. Travellers returning from these areas shall notify the doctor to seek medical treatment and inform the travel situation if feeling unwell.

For more information on Mpox, including the latest situation in overseas countries or places, please visit the World Health Organization and Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection’s thematic webpages at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox#tab=tab_1
https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105683.html

USA: Leprosy

31 July 2023

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease is becoming endemic in the US Southeast, including Florida. Florida has reported 191 leprosy cases from 2013 to July 29, 2023 (nearly 10 years).

Florida is witnessing an increase in leprosy cases lacking traditional risk factors and no clear evidence of zoonotic exposure.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 30 July 2023)

Kazakhstan: Measles [Update]

31 July 2023

As of July 27, Kazakhstan health officials have reported 2,694 confirmed Measles cases, of which, 40 percent have been reported in the city of Almaty. No deaths have been reported. In 2022, Kazakhstan reported 10 cases total during the year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 July 2023)

Paraguay: Chikungunya and Dengue Fever [Update]

31 July 2023

Officials in Paraguay observe that the downward trend in terms of Chikungunya continues, with a weekly average of about 40 cases per week in the last 3 weeks, Dengue cases still remain at an average of 100 weekly cases. It is striking that at the end of July Paraguay still have cases of dengue and chikungunya.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 July 2023)

Tanzania and Kenya: Poliomyelitis [Update]

31 July 2023

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases in Kenya (two cases) and Tanzania (one case) recently.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 July 2023)

Bangladesh: Dengue Fever [Update]

31 July 2023

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Bangladesh has reported 34,724 Dengue cases so far in July with the total cases since the beginning of the year rising to 42,702.

An additional 10 fatalities today has brought the total death tally to 225 (178 in July alone).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 July 2023)

Costa Rica: Rickettsiosis

31 July 2023

The Costa Rica Ministry of Health confirms the deaths of three people from Rickettsiosis. The deaths are three males aged 43, 53 and 70, all residents of Aserrí.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 July 2023)

USA: Swine Influenza

31 July 2023

In the USA, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Lapeer and Oakland County health departments have identified a presumptive positive human case of influenza A H3 variant (swine flu) in a Lapeer County resident who was an exhibitor at the Oakland County Fair.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 July 2023)

Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritius: Dengue Fever

31 July 2023

In Côte d’Ivoire’s outbreak, of 107 cases reported between 19 to 25 June 2023, 22 were confirmed for Dengue Fever infection by RT-PCR. No fatalities have been reported so far. Cocody-Bingerville is the most affected, accounting for 95% of the cases.

Mauritius has been experiencing an outbreak of dengue fever since early June. As of 7 July 2023, 147 suspected cases have been reported, including 96 on Mauritius Island and 51 on Rodrigues Island.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 July 2023)

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria: Poliomyelitis [Update]

31 July 2023

The DRC reported one more circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case, pushing its total this year to 57. Nigeria reported two cVDPV2 cases, lifting its number for 2023 to 18.

(Source: CIDRAP 29 July 2023)

Mainland China: Avian Influenza [Update]

26 July 2023

This Avian Influenza (H5N6) case involves a 64-year-old male living in Guilin, Guangxi, who had raised domestic poultry before the onset of symptoms. He developed symptoms on July 3 and was admitted for treatment on the following day. He is in serious condition.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 July 2023)

USA: Dengue Fever [Update]

26 July 2023

The Florida Department of Health reported two more locally acquired Dengue cases, raising the year's total to five. Like the earlier cases, the two latest patients were both from Miami-Dade County.

(Source: CIDRAP 26 July 2023)

United Arab Emirates: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

26 July 2023

According to World Health Organization, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported a case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in a 28-year-old man from outside the country who is living in Al Ain, a city near the border with Oman, but it's not clear how he contracted the virus. The UAE reported its last case in November 2021 and has now reported 94 cases.

(Source: CIDRAP 25 July 2023)