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
Malaysia: Dengue Fever
6 May 2024
The
Malaysia Ministry of Health reports 52,887 total
Dengue cases through April this year, a 70 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
USA: Mpox (monkeypox)
6 May 2024
The New York City Health Department of
USA has reported a substantial increase in
Monkeypox cases since October 2023.
Argentina: Dengue Fever [Update]
6 May 2024
The
Argentina Ministry of Health reports a much greater magnitude of
Dengue this season than previous years. 379,341 of the cases have been reported from January 1.
USA: Norovirus Infection
6 May 2024
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention of
USA reports that 115 passengers and 28 crew were sickened with
Norovirus infection on the April 5th Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess voyage from Los Angeles.
Sweden: Mpox (monkeypox)
6 May 2024
During April 2024, an unusually high number of cases of
Mpox have been reported to the Public Health Authority. There are about ten cases of the disease in the Stockholm area, all infected in
Sweden.
USA: Dengue Fever [Update]
2 May 2024
The Florida Department of Health reported one additional locally transmitted
Dengue fever in
USA during the past week.
Denmark: Salmonella
2 May 2024
Since mid-March, 40 patients have been registered ill with the same type of
Salmonella in
Denmark. These are 24 men and 16 women aged 0-83. As the patients live throughout the country, it therefore suggests that it is a food that has been sold in supermarkets across the country.
Brazil: Dengue Fever [Update]
2 May 2024
Brazil surpassed 4 million cases of
Dengue fever registered this year, according to an update from the Ministry of Health's Arbovirus Monitoring Panel this Monday. In total, 4,127,571 probable cases of the disease were reported across the country in the first four months of 2024.
Africa: Diphtheria
2 May 2024
Since the beginning of the year and through April 20, 8,124 total
Diphtheria cases have been reported from five African Union Member States. Nearly seven out of 10 cases have been reported in
Nigeria (5,642 total cases. Other countries reporting cases include
Guinea (1508),
Niger (746),
Chad (222) and
Gabon (6).
Brazil: Yellow Fever
2 May 2024
After the registration of two new cases of
Yellow fever in the border region between São Paulo and Minas Gerais, the Ministry of Health of
Brazil issued an alert asking states and municipalities to report suspected cases of the disease as quickly as possible.
Burkina Faso: Dengue Fever [Update]
2 May 2024
In Africa, the landlocked country in West Africa,
Burkina Faso continues to see the most
Dengue fever among African Union Member States, accounting for six out 10 cases. From the beginning of the year through April 28, the Burkina Faso Ministry of Health has reported 21,352 cumulative dengue cases and 38 deaths.