Current Travel Health News

From the beginning of the year through February 22, the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) has reported 2,970 cumulative Dengue Fever cases.

Three Zika cases have been reported nationally in 2024 to date with the no new cases being reported in Singapore since 8 February 2024.

The Cambodia Ministry of Health reported an additional human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza in the country. The patient is a 17-year-old girl from Kampot province. The girl presented with fever, cough, tiredness, and difficulty breathing. She is currently improving under hospital intensive care.

Hong Kong health authorities report investigating a case of influenza A (H9) infection affecting a 22-month-old girl. According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), the patient has developed fever and cough with sputum since February 15 and was brought to Union Hospital for medical advice on February 16. No hospitalization was required at that time. Her clinical specimen was tested positive for the influenza A (H9) virus today upon testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. Subtyping result is pending. Her clinical diagnosis was avian influenza. She is in stable condition and arrangements have been made for her to be admitted to isolation ward of Princess Margaret Hospital for further treatment.

The Louisiana Department of Health in USA yesterday announced that two Measles cases have been confirmed in the greater New Orleans area. In related developments, two states that reported earlier cases have reported more measles infections. Arizona's Maricopa Department of Public Health today reported two more cases, bringing its total to three. The cases are related exposures reported earlier this month.

Elsewhere, the United Kingdom today updated its measles status, noting that 169 lab-confirmed cases have been reported since January 22. Most are from the West Midlands, particularly Birmingham, where an outbreak initially drove the United Kingdom's rise in cases.

The New Mexico Department of Health in the United States reports the confirmation of the first case of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome this year. A man living in San Juan County was hospitalized, released, and is at home recovering.

Health officials in Brazil said this week that the total Dengue fever cases in the country has topped 650,000 already in 2024, an increase of 294% compared to the same period in 2023.

After reporting record cases that topped 4.5 million last year, countries in the Americas have already recorded more than 673,000 Dengue infections in the first 5 weeks of 2024, including 700 severe cases and 102 deaths. Countries reporting increases this year are Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru.

The Taiwan Department of Disease Control (CDC) reported today on the first locally acquired Measles case of 2024.

The Diphtheria outbreak that began in the West African country of Guinea last July 2023, has continued into 2024 with a vengeance. During the first five weeks of 2024 (January 1 to February 4), Guinea officials reported 1,184 suspected cases and five deaths, averaging 237 suspected cases per week during this period.

The Thailand Bureau of Epidemiology reports 13,347 total Dengue Fever cases from January 1 to February 14. This is a more than 2-fold increase in cases compared to the same period in 2023. Of the 13,347 total cases, 3,633 were dengue hemorrhagic fever and 108 were classified as dengue shock syndrome. To date, 11 dengue related fatalities have been reported.

Health officials from the Federal District of Brazil said Saturday that they are close to or may have already registered more than 72,600 cases of Dengue this year – the number of notifications for the entire year 2022.

The Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) reports that since the beginning of 2024, 25 new Anthrax cases (7 confirmed, 3 probable and 15 suspected) and three deaths among the confirmed cases (42.9 percent CFR) from three districts-Kazo (22 cases/3 deaths), Kyotera (1) and Ibanda (2).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert Friday regarding a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections. Ten people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from four states- California (4), Colorado (3), Utah (2) and Texas (1). Four people have been hospitalized and one person developed hemolytic uretic syndrome (HUS). This is a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 8 people interviewed, 6 (75%) reported eating RAW FARM brand raw cheddar cheese.

The updated report from the General Directorate of Health Surveillance in Paraguay this Friday indicates that in the last three weeks, 58,737 total Dengue cases were registered nationwide, of which 6,460 were confirmed cases of dengue.

Local media reported Saturday night that three new cases of Measles have been confirmed at Manatee Bay Elementary in Florida, bringing the total to four.

A 10-year-old female acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case in January 2024 due to circulating Vaccine derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) was reported in Zimbabwe. In addition, two newly confirmed AFP cases (samples from contacts) have been reported this week.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 56 laboratory confirmed Measles cases in England in the past week. This brings the total number of cases confirmed since 1 October 2023 to 521.

New York City health officials report a citywide increase in Pertussis, or whooping cough cases in 2023-2024, with approximately 244 reported cases from October 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024. This is nearly a 200% increase in cases compared to the same period in 2022-2023.

The Costa Rica Ministry of Health reports 2,679 cases of Dengue during the first four weeks of 2024. This represents an increase of 298 compared to the same period last year. No deaths have been reported.

Malaria in Costa Rica has seen an increase since 2017. In the first four weeks of the year, 24 cases of malaria were reported, of which of which 18 are indigenous cases, 5 imported and 1 pending classification.

Saudi Arabia has reported four more MERS-CoV cases, all in people whose symptoms began in the latter months of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a February 16 update.

The cases, two of which were fatal, were confirmed between October 10 and November 16. The patients are from three different regions: Riyadh, Eastern, and Qassim. Two were men, and two were women. All had underlying health conditions, and none were health workers.