Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (16 May 2011)
For more information, please visit the World Health Organization webpage.
Japan (Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture): Black Travel Alert
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)
As of 4 May, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia has reported 7 008 cases of Dengue Fever this year, of whom 12 died.
(Source: Ministry of Health, Malaysia 4 May 2011)
Bangladesh: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Bangladesh, 3 outbreaks of Avian Influenza among poultries were reported in farms in Dhaka.
(Source: World Organization for Animal Health 12 May 2011)
Netherlands: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Netherlands, an outbreak of Avian Influenza among poultries was reported in a farm in Gelderland.
(Source: World Organization for Animal Health 13 May 2011)
Indonesia: Avian Influenza, human
Indonesia announced one new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The victim was an 8-year-old girl from West Jakarta who developed symptoms on 1 April and was admitted on 4 April. She died on 11 April. A total of 177 cases with 146 deaths have been reported in Indonesia so far.
(Source: World Health Organization 13 May 2011)
Indonesia reported a 16-year-old youth who died of suspected Rabies at Buleleng Regional Hospital on 5 May 2011.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 May 2011)
Kenya: Yellow Fever, suspected
In Baringo county of Kenya, the 16 suspected cases of Yellow Fever reported earlier were all tested negative for the virus.
(Source: ProMED-mail 8 May 2011)
A 58-year-old man in New Mexico, USA was recently diagnosed and treated for bubonic Plague, the first case of the disease in the area this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10 May 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)
Philippines: Black Travel Alert
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)