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

USA: Mpox (Monkeypox) [Update]

20 June 2024

Los Angeles County health officials report 10 new Mpox cases in Los Angeles County, USA in the past two weeks, up from an average of less than two cases per week during the preceding several weeks.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 June 2024)

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 June 2024

The Brazil Ministry of Health has reported eclipsing the 6 million case of Dengue Fever mark for in 2024. Official data shows 6,007,048 cases have been reported through June 19, including 3,999 deaths and another 2,831 fatalities under investigation.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 June 2024)

Vietnam: Measles

20 June 2024

According to the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, as of week 23 of 2024, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam recorded 16 cases of Measles. The cases are mainly in children 24 months old and not fully vaccinated.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 June 2024)

Brazil: Pertussis [Update]

20 June 2024

Pertussis cases in the state of São Paulo, Brazil reached 139 from January to early June, an increase of 768.7% compared to the same period last year, when there were 16 records.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 June 2024)

Czech Republic: Pertussis [Update]

20 June 2024

The Czech Republic Health Department reported an additional 1,154 Pertussis cases last week.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 June 2024)

Vietnam: Japanese Encephalitis

20 June 2024

The Hanoi Department of Health, Vietnam said that last week the city recorded the first case of Japanese encephalitis of the year.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 June 2024)

Taiwan: Dengue Fever [Update]

20 June 2024

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that there was one new local case of Dengue fever in Kaohsiung City.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 June 2024)

Japan: Group A Streptococcal Infection [Update]

20 June 2024

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases has reported a record number of 977 invasive Group A streptococcus cases so far during the first half of the year, which is often associated with strep throat but occasionally leads to limb necrosis and multiple organ failure.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 16 June 2024)