Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (28 December 2010)
Hong Kong: Avian Influenza, human [Update]
On 17 November 2010, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health of Hong Kong reported a human case of Influenza A H5N1 infection affecting a 59-year-old woman. The patient had onset of symptoms on 2 November and was admitted to hospital on 14 November for treatment of pneumonia. Her nasopharyngeal aspirate was tested positive for Influenza A (H5N1). The patient had travel history to the Mainland with family members. Her close contacts were traced and placed under quarantine.
CHP has stepped up surveillance and epidemiological investigation since 17 November. Three weeks of strengthened surveillance has passed and no secondary spread or further case of avian influenza was detected during the period. This human case of influenza A (H5) was classified as an imported sporadic infection and is now in stable condition in the hospital.
Travellers are advised to take necessary precautions for prevention of avian influenza
(Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong 17, 18 November and 8 December 2010)
Egypt announced 2 new human cases of Avian Influenza. The first case was a 25-year-old woman from Beheira governorate and the second case was 11-year-old girl from Luxor governorate. Of the 115 confirmed cases of the disease reported in Egypt, 38 were fatal.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22, 23 and 27 December 2010)
In Japan, an outbreak of H5 Avian Influenza which killed 4 birds was reported in a zoo in Toyama. The remaining 10 birds were culled. In Kagoshima, a wild bird was tested positive for H5N1 Avian Influenza.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 20 December 2010 and ProMED-mail 27 December 2010)
In Saudi Arabia, 2 219 cases of Dengue Fever have been reported in Jeddah so far this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20 December 2010)
As of 18 December, the Ministry of Health of Thailand has reported 114 100 cases of Dengue Fever this year, of whom 139 died.
(Source: Ministry of Health, Thailand 27 December 2010)
In Spain, an outbreak of Measles was reported in Granada.
(Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom 23 December 2010)
In the United States, an 11-year-old boy has died in Tbilisi, capital city of Georgia as a result of Rabies virus infection on 17 Dec 2010. It is believed that he had been bitten by a dog several days previously while visiting his relatives in Azerbaijan.
(Source: ProMED-mail 23 December 2010)
United Kingdom: Influenza [Update]
In the United Kingdom, Influenza activity continued to increase across the country. The influenza-like-illness consultation rates were above the baseline levels in England and Wales. Increasing numbers of severe cases, mainly in people aged under 65 years were being reported. Influenza A H1N1 (2009) and B were the predominant circulating viruses with few, sporadic Influenza A (H3N2) viruses detected.
(Source: Health Protection Agency 23 December 2010)
Philippines: Black Travel Alert
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 20 September 2010)