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 were 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

Bangladesh: Nipah Virus Infection [Update]

28 February 2024

As of 9 February 2024, two laboratory-confirmed cases of Nipah virus have been reported from the Dhaka division of Bangladesh. Both cases have died.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 28 February 2024)

Peru: Dengue Fever [Update]

28 February 2024

Peru will declare a health emergency in 20 of its 25 regions due to an increase in Dengue cases, with 28 deaths recorded this year. There is an imminent risk of a dengue outbreak following a 95% increase to 24,981 cases by the seventh week of the year, compared to 12,624 cases with 18 deaths in the same period in 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 27 February 2024)

Netherlands: Pertussis

28 February 2024

The number of reports of Pertussis (or whooping cough) in Netherlands has been increasing since last June 2023 and is much higher than in previous years, both in children and adults. Currently, approximately 250 patients with whooping cough are reported every week.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 26 February 2024)

Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]

28 February 2024

The Health Emergency Operations Center for the Ministry of Health in Brazil now reports the total Dengue cases reported in the country is 762,542 through February 23. In addition, 150 confirmed dengue deaths have reported and another 523 are under investigation. To date, seven states have issued emergency decrees due to the dengue epidemic.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 February 2024)

Costa Rica: Dengue Fever [Update]

28 February 2024

In a follow-up on the Dengue outbreak in Costa Rica, the Ministry of Health reports 4,787 total dengue cases through February 10 this year, a 1,260 percent increase compared to the 352 cases reported during the same period in 2023.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 25 February 2024)

Paraguay: Dengue Fever [Update]

28 February 2024

The Ministry of Health in Paraguay reports 54,654 total Dengue cases were identified in the last three weeks, with 6,930 cases confirmed with dengue. In this period, there is an increase of 7% in case notifications at the country level, compared to the last three previous weeks.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 February 2024)

Hong Kong: Avian Influenza [Update]

28 February 2024

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health reported today that the human case of influenza A (H9) infection detected in a 22-month-old girl has been confirmed as H9N2 Avian influenza. According to the whole genome sequencing result, it is believed that the H9N2 virus isolated from sample of the patient are of avian origin. The relevant avian influenza virus showed no re-assortment with genes of human influenza origin. The symptoms of the patient had subsided and is still undergoing isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital. She is now in stable condition.

(Source: Outbreak News Today 24 February 2024)

USA: Measles [Update]

28 February 2024

The US Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently reported an imported Measles infection, which involves a child in Oakland County.

(Source: CIDRAP 27 February 2024)