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 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
Comoros: Cholera
3 June 2024
As of May 29, 2024, 125 cases of
cholera have been reported in Mayotte,
Comoros.
Nigeria: Diptheria [Update]
3 June 2024
The
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported that since the beginning of the year, a cumulative total of 7,619
diphtheria cases have been reported. The diphtheria death toll has reached 100.
Paraguay: Dengue Fever [Update]
3 June 2024
The
Paraguay Ministry of Health reported 14,517
dengue cases in the past three weeks. Since the epidemic started last September, 326,411 total dengue cases have been reported.40 percent of cases were reported in children.
Brazil: Leptospirosis [Update]
3 June 2024
In a follow-up on the
leptospirosis outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul, the
Brazil Ministry of Health (MOH) estimates up to 1,600 cases of leptospirosis.
Maldives: Chikungunya Fever
3 June 2024
Maldives Health authorities have reported 389 total cases of
chikungunya fever. Male (309 cases) is most affected.
Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]
3 June 2024
In a recent report, a child has been paralyzed by wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Shikarpur district of Sindh, bringing the number of
poliomyelitis cases in
Pakistan this year to four.
South Africa: Rabies
31 May 2024
During the first four months of the year,
South Africa’s National Institute for Diseases reported three cases of human
Rabies.
United Kingdom: Measles [Update]
31 May 2024
Public Health Wales of the
United Kingdom reports cases in the Gwent
Measles outbreak have risen to 17, up from nine cases announced at the end of April.
Pakistan: Poliomyelitis [Update]
31 May 2024
Pakistan officials reported in recent days, wild
Poliovirus type 1 was detected in stool samples collected from a child in Darozai union council of Killa Abdullah. The affected child developed symptoms of paralysis on April 20.
USA: Avian Influenza [Update]
31 May 2024
Michigan health officials report an additional case of
Influenza A (H5) in a Michigan farmworker in
USA, who worked closely with influenza A positive cows.
Canary Islands (Spain): Measles
31 May 2024
The Ministry of Health of the Government of the
Canary Islands reports an outbreak of
Measles. Four cases have been detected. The index case is a minor who was not vaccinated. Of the other three cases, two are babies who, due to their age, were not yet due for the first dose and one is an adult.
Argentina: Psittacosis [Update]
31 May 2024
The
Argentina Ministry of Health reports 518 notifications of
Psittacosis cases through May 18.
Mainland China: Avian Influenza [Update]
29 May 2024
A human case of
Avian influenza A (H5N6) was reported in the
Mainland. The case involves a 52-year-old female living in Quanzhou city in Fujian Province, who had exposure to backyard poultry before the onset of symptoms. She developed symptoms on April 13 and was admitted to a hospital for treatment on April 20. She passed away on April 30.
Brazil: Pertussis
29 May 2024
In
Brazil, the state of São Paulo Paulo recorded 37 cases of
Pertussis this year. In the capital alone, 32 cases were confirmed, which represents a four-fold increase compared to the entire year 2023, says the Municipal Health Department.
Brazil: Leptospirosis [Update]
29 May 2024
In
Brazil, with data updated until May 27, 2023, Rio Grande do Sul had 1,588 notifications with 124 confirmed cases of
Leptospirosis. The State also recorded five deaths due to the disease.
France: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
29 May 2024
No human cases of
Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever have been diagnosed in
France to date. However, the risk of infection has now been demonstrated because Hyalomma ticks infected with the virus are present in the south of France.
Mauritius: Leptospirosis
29 May 2024
On 4 May 2024, the Ministry of Health and Wellness of
Mauritius notified the public of a rising incidence of
Leptospirosis cases in Mauritius with a total of 20 cases reported since the beginning of 2024.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Plague [Update]
29 May 2024
In a follow-up on the
Plague outbreak in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, through April 20 this year, a total of 259 cases and seven deaths were reported.