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 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

Uganda: Anthrax [Update]

10 October 2024

Health officials in Uganda are reporting that during the week ending September 28, the Uganda Ministry of Health reported 59 additional human anthrax cases (2 confirmed and 57 probable) and one additional fatality from Kanungudistrict, in southwestern Uganda.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 October 2024)

USA: Dengue Fever [Update]

10 October 2024

Florida state health officials reported five additional locally acquired Dengue Fever cases this past week in Miami-Dade (4) and Pasco (1) counties. This brings the total local transmission of Dengue Fever in the state to 45 cases through October 5.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 9 October 2024)

Nepal: Japanese Encephalitis

8 October 2024

Nepal has reported at least 17 deaths and 63 cases of Japanese Encephalitis since the start of the monsoon in June this year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 October 2024)

Nigeria: Cholera [Update]

8 October 2024

Through the first nine months of 2024, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 10,837 suspected cholera cases, including 359 deaths (3.3% CFR) in all 36 states.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 October 2024)

USA: Vibrio Vulnificus Infection [Update]

8 October 2024

The Florida Department of Health has seen a rise in Vibrio vulnificus Infection cases in select counties in Florida post-Hurricane Helene.

According to the latest data published October 4, officials have reported 64 cases year to date, including nine deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 6 October 2024)

Colombia: Leishmaniasis

8 October 2024

In the department of Cesar, Colombia, the Ministry of Health reports 288 cases of leishmaniasis, of which 101 correspond to indigenous patients.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 October 2024)

Canada: Legionnaires' Disease [Update]

8 October 2024

According to the Middlesex-London Health Unit, Canada, between May 1 and September 26, 2024, a total of 30 confirmed legionella cases met the criteria for inclusion in the outbreak.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 5 October 2024)

Algeria: Malaria and Diphtheria

8 October 2024

In the north Africa country of Algeria, officials report significant outbreaks of malaria and diphtheria in southern Algeria since September 2024. Heavy rains in September led to stagnant waters, accelerating mosquito breeding and increasing malaria cases to 536 registered cases with 40 deaths. Diphtheria cases have risen to 115 registered cases with 28 deaths.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 October 2024)

USA: Avian Influenza [Update]

8 October 2024

The California Department of Public Health reports today on two confirmed human cases of H5 bird flu in Central Valley individuals who had contact with infected dairy cattle.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 October 2024)

Ghana: Mpox

8 October 2024

Ghana health officials confirmed a Mpox (also known as monkeypox) case in a patient from the Western North Region.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 October 2024)

Pakistan and Afghanistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]

8 October 2024

The total number of wild Poliomyelitis cases (WPV-1) in Pakistan has risen to 28 with the addition of four confirmed cases in recent days.

During the past week, officials in Afghanistan reported three WPV1 cases from Kandahar and Hilmand provinces. To date, Afghanistan has reported 22 confirmed wild poliovirus cases.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 October 2024)

Rwanda: Marburg Virus Disease [Update]

8 October 2024

Health officials in Rwanda reported seven additional confirmed cases of Marburg virus disease and one death on October 2, and one additional confirmed case on October 3, bringing the current outbreak total to 37 cases and 11 deaths, with a case fatality of 30 percent.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 3 October 2024)

Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]

8 October 2024

Health officials in the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified the World Health Organization of one case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Since the beginning of the year, a total of five cases including four deaths have been reported from Saudi Arabia, and this is the first case reported since May 2024.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 4 October 2024)