Current Travel Health News

Following the hostage taking incident in the Philippines which had caused casualties, the Hong Kong SAR Government has raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for the Philippines to Black. Hong Kong residents are urged to avoid all travel to the Philippines. Those already there should attend to their personal safety and stay alert.

For more information, please visit the OTA webpage.

(Source: Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong SAR 23 August 2010)

In view of a recent shooting incident involving tourists in New Dehli, India, the Hong Kong SAR Government issued an amber Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for India on 20 September. Those who plan to visit the country or already there should monitor the situation and exercise caution.

For more information, please visit the OTA webpage.

(Source: Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong SAR 20 September 2010)

As of 26 September 2010, the Ministry of Health of Xizang Autonomous Region in Mainland confirmed 5 human cases of Pneumonic Plague in Latok Village, Nangxian County of Nyingchi Prefecture. The 1st case was found on 23 September and the patient died of a severe lung infection. The remaining 4 cases, all of whom had direct contact with the deceased, have been quarantined. One of the cases is in critical condition and the other 3 are stable at the moment.

The health department also issued a warning that persons who have visited the region after 18 September must seek immediate medical attention if they develop fever, cough or other flu-like symptoms.

(Source: Ministry of health of Xizang Autonomous Region 26 September 2010 & ProMED-mail 26 September 2010)

(Editor's notes: Travellers should avoid visiting plague-endemic areas. If travel to such areas is necessary, observe appropriate precautions like wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers to avoid being bitten by flea, applying insect repellent, staying away from scrubby areas and areas known to have rodent or flea infestation, etc. Travellers develop symptoms such as fever, painful lumps, chills after visiting plague-endemic area should seek medical consultation immediately.)

In Vietnam, 34 fatal human cases of Rabies were reported during the first half of this year, a toll equal to rabies deaths for 2003. There were 91 rabies deaths in 2008 and 64 in 2009.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 September 2010)

(Editor's notes: Travellers should avoid contact with animals. Immunisation (both pre-exposure and post-exposure), combined with thorough wound cleaning, is the most reliable methods of preventing rabies. Travellers visiting Vietnam with prolonged stay or anticipated contact with animals should seek medical consultation for pre-travel health advice and pre-exposure rabies vaccination if indicated.)

In Vietnam, more than 200 cases of Ho Chi Minh City residents have contacted Dengue Fever per week, and the outbreaks of dengue have been recorded in many districts. As of August 2010, there were 42 314 dengue cases and 33 deaths reported in Vietnam.  

(Source: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific 22 September 2010 & ProMED-mail 21 September 2010)

In India, the outbreak of Dengue Fever in Delhi continues unabated with 76 more patients testing positive on 14 September 2010 alone, taking the total number of those infected to 1933. The present situation in Delhi is bothering several countries and nearly 24 have issued travel advisories, alerting travellers about the outbreak ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 September 2010)

As of 4 September, Philippines recorded 77 012 cases of Dengue Fever, more than double last year’s 36 887 for the same period. The death toll from dengue fever has reached 534 so far this year, increasing by nearly 40% compared to the same period of last year. Among the fatal cases, 118 were school children.  

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 September 2010)

Taiwan confirmed 49 more local cases of Dengue Fever in the recent week, bringing the total number of cases to 169 so far this year. In the same period, a total of 202 cases of imported dengue fever were also recorded, the highest number in Taiwan's history for the period.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 September 2010)

Further to the first reported local case of Dengue Fever in France on 13 September 2010, a second local case was reported in Nice Cote d'Azur. The patient was hospitalized and is recovering.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 September 2010)

A voluntary recall has been issued for a brand of raw West Coast oysters after 3 groups of diners got food poisoning after eating together in the Vancouver area, Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume Effingham extra small raw oysters after 16 people became ill. The victims had Norovirus-like illness, including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and they have now recovered.

(Source: ProMED-mail 25 September 2010)

As of 15 September, Bhutan reported an outbreak of Anthrax affecting 8 people with 1 death in Zhemgang.

(Source: ProMED-mail 23 September 2010)

In Zimbabwe, an outbreak of Measles which killed 70 children was reported in the country. The affected areas include Mashonaland Central.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 September 2010)