With dengue fever (DF) outbreaks occurring in neighboring areas around Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is calling on the public to take necessary preventive measures to guard against DF.
The CHP reports seeing an increased number of imported DF cases this year. To date, there have been 70 confirmed cases of DF in Hong Kong this year, which were all imported cases. This compares to the 10-year average of 50 cases seen during the past decade.
Related: China’s Guangdong province dengue outbreak: Over 1,000 new cases daily this week
“At present, no effective vaccine for DF is available. Therefore, the best preventive measures are to avoid mosquito bites and to eliminate pockets of stagnant water that serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes,” a spokesman of the CHP said.
Travelers should take the following preventive measures against DF: Wear loose, light-colored, long-sleeved tops and trousers; use DEET-containing insect repellent on exposed parts of the body and clothing; and use mosquito screens or nets in rooms that are not air-conditioned.
Anyone feeling unwell after returning from a trip should seek medical advice as soon as possible and provide travel details to their doctor. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
