Press Release

Update on number of dengue fever cases

22 January 2016

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 22) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF) in Hong Kong, and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

From January 15 to 21, one additional confirmed case was recorded. It was an imported case in which the patient had been in Thailand during the incubation period.

As of yesterday (January 21), eight cases had been confirmed this year, all of which are imported cases. In 2015, a total of 114 cases had been confirmed, comprising two local cases, 110 imported cases and two unclassified cases.

The CHP has been closely monitoring the latest dengue situation in neighbouring and overseas areas. In Guangdong, local cases have been recorded in Chaozhou, Zhongshan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shantou, Shenzhen, Jieyang, Yangjiang, Jiangmen, Maoming and Yunfu in 2015. Regarding popular tourist attractions in Asia, the latest figures of 2015 revealed that 111 285 DF cases have been recorded in Malaysia, while the latest figures of 2016 revealed that 2 380 DF cases have been recorded in Thailand and nine in Japan. A total of 1 554 cases have been recorded in Singapore since January 3, 2016, and according to the health authority of Taiwan, to date, 307 local cases have been recorded in 2016. In the Americas, the latest figures of 2015 indicate that 1 649 008 cases were filed in Brazil and 219 593 in Mexico.

"The public are reminded to follow anti-mosquito measures when travelling to areas where DF is endemic in order to prevent DF," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"Dengue viruses encompass four different serotypes. The symptoms of first infection with one serotype are usually mild, but subsequent infections with other serotypes even years afterward are more likely to result in severe dengue, also known as dengue haemorrhagic fever. Severe dengue is serious and potentially fatal. Without proper treatment, the case fatality rate of severe dengue can exceed 20 per cent.

"At present, there is no locally registered dengue vaccine available in Hong Kong. Strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures remain the most effective means against DF both locally and during travel," the spokesman added.

Travellers are urged to be alert to the dengue risk of travel destinations before departing and take heed of the preventive measures below:

• Wear loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved tops and trousers, and use DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed parts of the body and clothing;
• Avoid using fragrant cosmetics or skin-care products and re-apply insect repellents according to instructions during outdoor activities;
• Before the trip, arrange a travel health consultation at least six weeks in advance for any extra measures against mosquito bites; and
• During the trip, carry a portable bed net and apply permethrin (an insecticide) on it in rural endemic areas. Permethrin should not be applied to the skin.

The incubation period of DF ranges from three to 14 days, commonly four to seven days. Anyone feeling unwell after returning from a trip should seek medical advice as soon as possible and provide travel details to their doctors.

Members of the public should also prevent the accumulation of stagnant water and maintain good environmental hygiene:

• Change the water in vases once a week;
• Clear the water in saucers under potted plants every week;
• Cover water containers tightly;
• Ensure air-conditioner drip trays are free of stagnant water;
• Put all used cans and bottles into covered dustbins; and
• Store food and dispose of garbage properly.

Members of the public are reminded to make reports to government departments via the hotline 1823 if mosquito problems are detected, and may visit the pages below for more information:

• The CHP's DF page (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/38847.html);
• The DF page of the DH's Travel Health Service (This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup_dengue.html);
• The DH's latest Travel Health News (This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/outbreaknews/outbreaknews.html);
• The CHP's tips for using insect repellents (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/38927.html);
• The CHP Facebook Page (This link will open in a new windowwww.fb.com/CentreforHealthProtection);
• The CHP YouTube Channel (This link will open in a new windowwww.youtube.com/c/ChpGovHkChannel); and
• The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's Guidebook on Control and Prevention of Mosquito Breeding (This link will open in a new windowwww.fehd.gov.hk/english/safefood/handbook_prev_mos_breeding.html).