Travel Health Service Year 2024

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 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

Mexico: Avian Influenza

6 June 2024

The Mexico Ministry of Health reports first human case of avian influenza A (H5N2) and subsequent death. The case was a 59-year-old man, with a history of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and long-standing hypertension. His sample tested positive for influenza type A and avian influenza A (H5N2).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 June 2024)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Mpox [Update]

6 June 2024

A total of 823 cases of mpox have been recorded in the South Kivu province of Democratic Republic of the Congo since October 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 June 2024)

Honduras: Dengue fever

6 June 2024

The Honduran Ministry of Health reported 23,037 suspected cases of dengue fever and 10 deaths since the beginning of the year, one of the highest totals in the Central America.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 June 2024)

Argentina: Dengue fever [Update]

6 June 2024

The Argentina Ministry of Health reports 488,035 total dengue fever cases year to date, including 333 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 June 2024)

Czech Republic: Pertussis and Measles [Update]

6 June 2024

The Czech Republic health officials reported a total of 17,755 pertussis cases and 27 cases of Measles in 2024 to date.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 June 2024)