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
USA: Dengue, West Nile virus, Chikungunya, Oropouche fever [Update]
20 September 2024
Dengue:
Florida: Four additional locally acquired dengue fever cases were reported on September 14, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH).
Los angeles: In a follow-up on the dengue fever situation in Los Angeles County, California, county health authorities report investigating two additional cases of locally acquired dengue in residents of the City of Baldwin Park. These residents have no history of travel to areas where dengue is endemic prior to their symptoms.
Florida :
West Nile virus:
Officials reported one additional human West Nile virus case last week in Bay County, bringing the total to four—Duval, Marion, and Walton counties reporting cases.
Chikungunya:
An additional travel associated chikungunya case was reported last week, bringing the total this year to seven. No locally acquired cases have been reported this year.
State health officials reported 22 additional travel associated cases last week. This brings the total cases to 70 to date this year.
20 September 2024
Since the beginning of the year, the Africa CDC has reported a total of 68,814 total dengue cases through September 16, which includes 11,523 confirmed, 10,339 probable and 46,952 suspected cases, including 81 deaths.
Of the 15 countries (African Union Member States) reporting dengue this year (up from 10 this time last year), Burkina Faso accounts for 67 percent of the cases, or 46,551 cases.
Peru: Oropouche fever [Update]
20 September 2024
Philippines : leptospirosis [Update]
20 September 2024
The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) has reported a 11 percent increase in leptospirosis cases in 2024, according to the latest figures.
From the beginning of the year through September 7, DOH reports 4,575 cases of leptospirosis. This compares to the 4,112 cases recorded for the same period in 2023.
The leptospirosis death toll is down from last year—393 in 2024 to date versus 475 deaths in 2023 at this time last year.
17 September 2024
Philippines: Dengue Fever [Update]
17 September 2024
17 September 2024
USA: Pertussis and Measles [Update]
17 September 2024
The total number of confirmed/probable Pertussis cases reported in 2024 as of September 12, 2024 in Minnesota is 706, with the most cases reported in Hennepin County, Carver County, Wright County and other surrounding counties.
Since May, 42 cases of Measles have been reported in Minnesota as part of this outbreak. Initial cases were reported in May and June, but the outbreak started to take off at the end of July. Cases have ranged in age from 7 months to 10 years, with one case in an adult, and about 1 in 3 cases have required hospitalization.
17 September 2024
17 September 2024
17 September 2024
17 September 2024
India: Nipah Virus Infection [Update]
17 September 2024