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.
Detailed information on the latest Dengue fever situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, can be found at the Centre for Health Protection’s website: https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf
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 wer e 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
Brazil: Chikungunya Fever and Oropouche Fever [Update]
5 September 2024
Health officials in Brazil are reporting 254,170 probable chikungunya cases year to date. This includes 162 confirmed deaths and 153 under investigation.
The number of Oropouche fever cases reported in Brazil stands at 7,848 confirmed cases. This compares to 831 confirmed cases in 2023.
Afghanistan: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, measles, malaria and dengue [Update]
5 September 2024
According to the World Health Organization since the beginning of 2024, a total of 908 suspected cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever with 76 associated deaths were reported in Afghanistan.
Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 47,119 suspected measles cases and 213 deaths were reported. Among suspected measles cases, 37,804 (80.2%) were under-five children.
Confirmed malaria cases show a gradual increase in Afghanistan. Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 43,886 confirmed malaria cases with 2 associated deaths were reported from 32 provinces. Out of the total cases, 9,138 (20.8%) were under-five children.
Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 1,844 suspected cases of dengue fever with no associated deaths were reported.
5 September 2024
5 September 2024
France, Italy: Dengue Fever [Update]
5 September 2024
In 2024 to date, health authorities in France have reported 21 locally transmitted dengue fever case from the following departments/regions—Alpes-Maritimes (2 cases), Drôme (2 cases), Gard (1 case), Hérault (1 case), Pyrénées-Orientales or Lozère (2 cases), Vaucluse (10 cases), Var (3 cases) departments.
Italian officials have reported a locally transmitted dengue case in the Municipality of Albinea, Reggio Emilia province last month.