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: Dengue Fever and Oropouche fever [Update]

22 August 2024

In a follow-up on the dengue fever situation in Florida, USA, this year, The Florida Department of Health reported five additional locally acquired dengue fever cases during the past week, including the first such case in Manatee County.

In a follow-up on the Oropouche fever situation in the state, health officials reported an additional nine travel associated cases during the past week, bringing the total to 20.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 August 2024)

USA: Salmonella [Update]

22 August 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration and state health departments of USA continue their investigation into the Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers. In their latest update report on August 14, a total of 449 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 August 2024)

USA: Valley Fever

22 August 2024

From the beginning of the year through August 10, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of USA has received 14,937 reports of coccidioidomycosis, or Valley fever cases, an increase of 43 percent compared to the same period in 2023 (10,461).

(Source: Outbreak News Today 18 August 2024)

USA: Eastern Equine Encephalitis

22 August 2024

In 2024 to date, three human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been reported in the United States-New Jersey, Vermont and most recently, Massachusetts.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 August 2024)

Argentina: Trichinosis

22 August 2024

During the first seven months of 2024, 157 suspected cases of trichinosis were reported in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, of which 61 cases were confirmed, 3 are probable, 2 were ruled out and 91 are under study.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 August 2024)

Brazil: Leishmaniasis

22 August 2024

According to Surveillance of Communicable Diseases and Immunization at State Health Department of Brazil, from the beginning of the year through August 7, 59 confirmed cases of visceral leishmaniasis were reported, nine of which resulted in death, and 490 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, with one death reported in the state.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 21 August 2024)

Panama: Dengue Fever [Update]

22 August 2024

Metropolitan Region of Panama reports 3,662 confirmed dengue fever cases and four deaths this year to date. The districts with the most cases are Las Garzas, 24 de Diciembre, Veracruz, Tocumen, Mañanitas anitas and Juan Díaz.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 19 August 2024)

Taiwan: Melioidosis [Update]

22 August 2024

In a follow-up on the melioidosis outbreak in Taiwan, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Taiwan reported 17 new cases of indigenous melioidosis in the place last week-12 in Kaohsiung City, 2 each in Tainan City and Pingtung County, and 1 in Taichung City.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 August 2024)

Cambodia: Avian influenza [Update]

22 August 2024

In a follow-up on the human H5N1 avian influenza situation in Cambodia in 2024, the Ministry of Health reported a case in a 15-year-old girl from Po Minh village, Kanhcheach commune, Kanhcheach district, Prey Veng province. This is the 10th human case of the year to date. Unfortunately, despite medical treatment, the girl died.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 20 August 2024)

France: Dengue Fever [Update]

22 August 2024

Health authorities in France recently reported three additional autochthonous cases of dengue in the PyrénéesOrientales, Lozère and Gard departments, bringing the total of locally transmitted cases to six in 2024.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 17 August 2024)

Thailand: Mpox

22 August 2024

Thailand on Wednesday reported a suspected first case of the new more dangerous strain of mpox, which the World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency. The patient is a European who travelled to Thailand from an African country.

(Source: The Standard 21 August 2024)