Current Travel Health News

WHO reported that, as of 5 June 2011, 1 674 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 661 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a total of 2 335 cases have been reported in 13 countries in Europe. There were 2 231 cases reported in Germany alone, with 21 deaths. The majority of these cases had recently visited northern Germany. The cause of the outbreak is still unclear. WHO does not recommend any trade restrictions related to this outbreak.

WHO recommends normal hygiene measures should be observed, hand washing after toilet use and before touching food. Anyone who has developed bloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and who has had contact recently with northern Germany, should seek medical advice urgently.

For updated information, please refer to website of WHO.

(Source: World Health Organization 2 June 2011 and World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe 6 June 2011)

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization webpage.

Following an incident occurred at a nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan on 12 March 2011, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for Fukushima Prefecture and 3 more prefectures (Miyagi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture) to Black on 12 March and 15 March respectively. Residents in Hong Kong or Japan are urged to avoid all travel to Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture. Those already in Japan should pay attention to the announcement of local government and take practicable measures to attend to their personal safety.

For more information, please visit the OTA webpage.

(Source: Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong SAR 12 and 15 March 2011)

The Ministry of Health of Egypt announced one new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The case was a 30-year-old woman from Alexandria Governorate. She developed symptoms on 26 April and died on 9 May. Of the 144 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 48 had been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 1 June 2011)

As of 21 May, Thailand has reported 11 820 cases of Dengue Fever this year, of whom 8 died.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Thailand 27 May 2011)

In Australia, a total of 415 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year. Local outbreaks had been reported in several towns in north Queensland. The health departments in several states had issued alerts relating to mosquito-borne diseases after an increase in the rates of mosquito-borne diseases following recent heavy rainfall. The mosquito-borne diseases included Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin virus.

(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre, UK 31 May 2011)

As of 30 May, Sri Lanka has reported 6 225 cases of Dengue Fever this year, of whom 54 died. Colombo was seriously affected.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka 30 May 2011)

In Colombia, as of 20 May 2011, a total of 611 cases of Dengue Fever were detected in the Sucre province, 12 were serious and possibly 3 people had died.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 June 2011)

In Vietnam, more than 1 100 Dengue Fever cases with 3 deaths have been reported across Dong Nai province since the beginning of this year. The figure represents a year-on-year increase of almost 70 percent.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 June 2011)

As of 29 May 2011, Haiti has reported 321 066 Cholera cases since the beginning of the outbreak, including 5 337 deaths.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 June 2011)

As widespread violent clashes occurred in many cities across Syria, including Daraa, Latakia, Damascus, Baniyas, Aleppo, Homs and Hama, resulting in serious casualties, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for Syria to Black. Residents are urged to avoid all travel to the country. Those already there should attend to their personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people.

For more information, please visit the OTA webpage.

(Source: Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong SAR 26 April 2011)

Following the hostage taking incident in the Philippines which had caused casualties, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 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)