Current Travel Health News

WHO reported that, as of 16 June 2011, 2 678 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 839 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a total of 3 517 cases have been reported in 16 countries. There were 3 408 cases reported in Germany alone, with 38 deaths. The majority of these cases had recently visited northern Germany. German authorities stated that mounting epidemiological and food-chain evidence indicated that bean and seed sprouts are the vehicle of the outbreak in Germany. The authorities now recommend that people in Germany should not eat raw bean and seed sprouts of any origin.

WHO recommends normal hygiene measures should be observed, hand washing after toilet use and before touching food. (Please refer websites of Travel Health Service and Centre for Health Protection for information on hygiene measures and hand washing respectively.) 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 Regional Office for Europe 17 June 2011)

The Ministry of Health of Egypt announced five new human cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The first case was a 40-year-old woman from Aswan Governorate. She developed symptoms on 14 May. She is now recovered. The second case was a 21-year-old pregnant woman from Menofia Governorate. She developed symptoms on 21 May and died on 29 May. The third case was a 31-year-old man from Qaliobia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 21 May and died on 5 June. The fourth case was a 32-year-old man from Cairo Governorate. He developed symptoms on 23 May and died on 2 June. The fifth case was a 16-year-old man from Menofia Governorate. He developed symptoms on 21 May. He is now recovering. Of the 149 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 51 had been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 June 2011)

In Republic of the Congo, almost 1 000 suspected cases of Chikungunya Fever were reported from the capital Brazzaville over the past 2 weeks.

(Source: Pro-MED mail 16 June 2011)

In Afghanistan, an outbreak of Cholera was reported in Kandahar Province with several thousand cases. Eighty percent of these patients were children under age of 5. Several dozen children were killed over the past 2 months.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 June 2011)

Cameroon reported 7 718 cases of Cholera with 256 deaths.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 June 2011)

A case of Cholera was reported in New York, USA. The case is a 63-year-old male who ate clams purchased at a store in Brooklyn. He developed watery diarrhea and was admitted. He had no recent travel history.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 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)