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
Japan: Influenza [Update]
23 December 2024
Influenza outbreaks continue to expand in
Japan. The estimated number of patients more than doubled compared to the previous week. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases and other organizations say about 5,000 hospitals and clinics across the country reported 94,259 flu patients in the seven-day period up to December 15. Based on this figure, the nationwide case count is estimated to be about 718,000.
(Source: NHK 20 December 2024)
Cape Verde Islands: Dengue Fever
23 December 2024
Cumulatively since the beginning of the year,
Cape Verde officials report 44,410 total
Dengue fever cases (including 17,942 confirmed) and eight deaths through mid-December 2024.
South Africa: Rubella
23 December 2024
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases in
South Africa reports a marked increase in
Rubella cases across the country, with 10137 cases in 2024.
Costa Rica: Dengue Fever [Update]
23 December 2024
Through the first week of December 2024,
Costa Rica has recorded 30,149 cases of
Dengue fever, up slightly from 28,775 cases of dengue during the same period in 2023.
Bangladesh: Dengue Fever [Update]
23 December 2024
From January 1 through December 21, officials in
Bangladesh report 100,029 total
Dengue cases. The cumulative death toll is 561, or a 0.56% case fatality rate, higher than most countries.
USA: Avian Influenza [Update]
23 December 2024
Iowa state health officials reported yesterday on the first human case of
Avian influenza A(H5) in the state.
Brazil: Oropouche Fever [Update]
23 December 2024
This year,
Brazil is experiencing an outbreak of
Oropouche fever. Espírito Santo confirmed the first death from Oropouche in the state.
New Zealand: Pertussis
23 December 2024
During the week ending December 7, the Institute of Environmental Science and Research reported 161
Pertussis in
New Zealand, up from 157 cases reported the week prior.
Japan: Fifth Disease [Update]
23 December 2024
The
Japan Society for Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology has issued a warning, noting that the outbreak of
Fifth Disease could persist and potentially lead to a national epidemic through 2025. For the week of Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, there were 0.89 cases per medical institution nationwide -- a roughly 70% increase from the previous week.
Ukraine: Measles
19 December 2024
The Public Health Center of
Ukraine reports 29 cases of
measles were recorded in November-December of this year in the Chern
ivtsi region.
USA: Dengue Fever [Update]
19 December 2024
The
Florida Department of Health reported five additional locally acquired
dengue fever cases during the past week - Manatee County (3), Miami-Dade County (1) and Pasco County (1).
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Malaria [Update]
19 December 2024
Further lab results on samples from patients sickened in an unexplained illness outbreak in a remote part of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo suggest a severe form of
malaria, Reuters reported today, citing a statement from the health ministry.
(Source: CIDRAP 18 December 2024)
Malaysia: Dengue Fever [Update]
17 December 2024
The
Malaysia Ministry of Health recorded 1,342
dengue fever cases and two deaths due to dengue complications during the week ending December 7, bringing the total for the year to 118,291, with 111 deaths.
USA: Avian Influenza [Update]
17 December 2024
Louisiana state health officials report detecting the first presumptive positive human case of highly pathogenic
avian influenza, or H5N1, in the state.
Uganda: Anthrax [Update]
17 December 2024
In
Uganda's Western Region, in Kazo District, authorities have established that the two individuals died of
anthrax. Investigations are underway to trace the source of the infected meat and prevent further spread.
Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]
17 December 2024
Pakistan health authorities confirmed the detection of four wild
poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan, bringing the number of total cases in the country this year to 63.