Press Release

DH urges travellers to take precautions against dengue fever

13 June 2013

In view of the recent increase in dengue fever activity in Southeast Asia, a spokesman of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 13) urged members of the public to take precautions against the disease while they travel, especially to places within Southeast Asia.

According to relevant health authorities, Singapore had recorded a total of 7,097 dengue fever cases in 2013 as of May 18, which was almost five times the number within the same period in 2012. In Thailand, the number of cases was about 40,000 as of early June this year, while about 74,000 cases were reported in the whole year of 2012. The number of cases in Laos was 3,638 as of May 10, also about five times that compared with the same period in 2012. In Vietnam, 13,903 cases had been reported up to May 20, which was about 1.2 times the figure for the same period in 2012. The recent trends in Cambodia and Malaysia have also indicated slight increases.

"Dengue fever is an endemic disease in most Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Members of the public travelling to these places are advised to protect themselves against mosquitoes all year round. In addition, the Port Health Office of the DH has informed the travel industry of the latest situation of dengue fever in these countries," the spokesman remarked.

Locally, as of June 11, 33 confirmed cases of dengue fever had been notified to the CHP. These cases were all imported from various countries including Thailand (nine cases), the Philippines (eight cases), Indonesia (seven cases), Sri Lanka (two cases), Cambodia (two cases), Malaysia (one case), the Maldives (one case), Vietnam (one case) and Brazil (one case), as well as one case in which the patient had travelled to multiple countries during the incubation period.

The spokesman urged travellers to take heed of the following preventive measures against dengue fever:

• Wear long-sleeved tops and trousers;
• Use insect repellent on exposed parts of the body; and
• Use mosquito screens or nets in rooms which are not air-conditioned.

Travellers returning from areas where dengue fever is prevalent who feel unwell should seek medical advice as soon as possible and provide travel details to their doctors.

The latest information on dengue fever in other areas can be found under "Travel Health News" on the website of the DH's Travel Health Service (This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk).

Travel agents, tour guides and travellers may visit the website for the latest news and advice on preventive measures.