Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (3 August 2009)
Advice for Travellers Planning to Visit Human Swine Influenza Affected Areas
Human Swine Influenza (Influenza A / H1N1)
The World Health Organization has declared the human swine influenza (swine flu) outbreak a global pandemic. Confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong.
Human-to-human transmission has occurred in the present swine flu outbreak. The symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain and headache. Some people infected with swine flu may also have vomiting and diarrhoea.
Advice
Strict adherence to personal and environmental hygiene is essential for prevention of swine flu. Department of Health reminds travellers to watch out for the latest developments in the swine flu outbreak when planning travel. Travellers should prepare adequate face masks and alcohol-based handrub and take the following precautionary measures:
- During the trip: maintain good personal hygiene, wash hands or use handrub frequently and avoid contact with sick people.
- Before returning: do not get on board an airplane when influenza-like symptoms develop. Put on a mask and seek medical attention where you are.
- After returning: avoid going to crowded places and pay close attention to your health. Seek medical consultation from public clinics or hospitals right away if influenza-like symptoms appear.
The Government of the HKSAR requires each arriving passenger to complete a Health Declaration Form and return it to designated collection points.
Use of Anti-viral Drugs
According to interim testing result performed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, human swine influenza virus is sensitive to two antiviral drugs, namely Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza). You should consult your doctor before taking these anti-viral drugs.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR, 22 June 2009)
Advice for Inbound Travellers/Returnees to Hong Kong on Prevention of Human Swine Influenza (Influenza A/H1N1)
The World Health Organization has declared the human swine influenza (swine flu) outbreak a global pandemic. Confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong.
Human-to-human transmission has occurred in the present swine flu outbreak. The symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain and headache. Some people infected with swine flu may also have vomiting and diarrhoea.
Advice
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government appeals to all inbound travellers/returnees to Hong Kong to observe the following:
- While overseas, exercise good personal hygiene, e.g. observe hand hygiene and cough manners, and -
- pay attention to announcements from the local government
- follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and preventive recommendations
- avoid contact with sick people
- Before returning, do not get on board an airplane when influenza-like symptoms develop. Put on a mask and seek medical attention where you are.
- If you develop symptoms while on board, put on a mask and notify the crew right away. The crew will in turn follow established procedures and alert ground control. Port health team will board the airplane to assess and follow up on landing.
- Upon landing, accurately and honestly complete the health declaration form; or present yourself to the port health post stationed at all border crossings if you have a health concern.
- After returning, avoid going to crowded places and pay close attention to your health. Seek medical consultation from public clinics or hospitals right away if influenza-like symptoms appear.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR, 25 June 2009)
Qinghai Province of the Mainland recently confirmed 12 cases of Pneumonic Plague. The first case (male, shepherd, 32 years old) died of the disease; the remaining 11 cases were mainly relatives of the deceased. They were all isolated in designated hospital and in stable condition. The authorities reminded that people who had travelled to the affected area after 16 July 2009 should seek medical attention if they developed symptoms like fever and cough.
(Source: the Health Department of Qinghai Province, China, 1 August 2009)
In the USA, there were 17 confirmed cases of Ehrlichiosis in Tennessee this year, compared with 14 for the same period last year.
[Editor's note: Ehrlichiosis is caused by rickettsia-like bacteria that are transmitted by bite of ticks. Symptoms usually appear 5 to 10 days after a person is bitten. Possible symptoms can be fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, joint pains or rash. The disease can even cause confusion or death. Wearing long-sleeved clothing and using insect repellants may prevent tick bites.]
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 July 2009)
As of 31 Jul 2009, there were 3 clusters of suspected local vivax Malaria transmissions affecting 16, 7 and 4 persons in Sungei Kadut/Mandai Estate, Jurong Island and the junction of Sembawang Road and Admiralty Road East of Singapore. The government has conducted control measures including larviciding of potential mosquito breeding habitats and killing adult by chemical fogging and residual spraying. The public was reminded to take precautionary measures against mosquitoes.
(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 26 and 29 July 2009)
In Belize, an outbreak of Dengue Fever affecting 114 people was reported in Cayo district. Out of which, 17 cases were diagnosed as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever. Nationally, 184 cases were reported so far this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 July 2009)
In India, a suspected outbreak of Chikungunya Fever was reported in Kerala.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 July 2009)