Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (2 November 2009)
Advice for Travellers Planning to Visit Human Swine Influenza Affected Areas
Human Swine Influenza (Influenza A / H1N1)
The World Health Organization has declared the human swine influenza (swine flu) outbreak a global pandemic. Confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong.
Human-to-human transmission has occurred in the present swine flu outbreak. The symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain and headache. Some people infected with swine flu may also have vomiting and diarrhoea.
Advice
Strict adherence to personal and environmental hygiene is essential for prevention of swine flu. Department of Health reminds travellers to watch out for the latest developments in the swine flu outbreak when planning travel. Travellers should prepare adequate face masks and alcohol-based handrub and take the following precautionary measures:
- During the trip: maintain good personal hygiene, wash hands or use handrub frequently and avoid contact with sick people.
- Before returning: do not get on board an airplane when influenza-like symptoms develop. Put on a mask and seek medical attention where you are.
- After returning: avoid going to crowded places and pay close attention to your health. Seek medical consultation from public clinics or hospitals right away if influenza-like symptoms appear.
The Government of the HKSAR requires each arriving passenger to complete a Health Declaration Form and return it to designated collection points.
Use of Anti-viral Drugs
According to interim testing result performed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, human swine influenza virus is sensitive to two antiviral drugs, namely Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza). You should consult your doctor before taking these anti-viral drugs.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR, 22 June 2009)
Advice for Inbound Travellers/Returnees to Hong Kong on Prevention of Human Swine Influenza (Influenza A/H1N1)
The World Health Organization has declared the human swine influenza (swine flu) outbreak a global pandemic. Confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong.
Human-to-human transmission has occurred in the present swine flu outbreak. The symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain and headache. Some people infected with swine flu may also have vomiting and diarrhoea.
Advice
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government appeals to all inbound travellers/returnees to Hong Kong to observe the following:
- While overseas, exercise good personal hygiene, e.g. observe hand hygiene and cough manners, and -
- pay attention to announcements from the local government
- follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and preventive recommendations
- avoid contact with sick people
- Before returning, do not get on board an airplane when influenza-like symptoms develop. Put on a mask and seek medical attention where you are.
- If you develop symptoms while on board, put on a mask and notify the crew right away. The crew will in turn follow established procedures and alert ground control. Port health team will board the airplane to assess and follow up on landing.
- Upon landing, accurately and honestly complete the health declaration form; or present yourself to the port health post stationed at all border crossings if you have a health concern.
- After returning, avoid going to crowded places and pay close attention to your health. Seek medical consultation from public clinics or hospitals right away if influenza-like symptoms appear.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR, 25 June 2009)
Worldwide: Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009
As of 25 October 2009, there have been more than 440,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and over 5 700 deaths worldwide reported to WHO.
In the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, influenza transmission continues to intensify marking an unusually early start to winter influenza season in some countries. In North America, the US and parts of Western Canada continue to report high rates of influenza-like-illness (ILI) and numbers of pandemic H1N1 2009 virus detections; Mexico has reported more confirmed cases since September than during the springtime epidemic. In Western Europe, high rates of ILI and proportions of respiratory specimens testing positive for pandemic H1N1 2009 have been observed in at least five countries: Iceland, Ireland, the UK (N. Ireland), Belgium and the Netherlands. Many other countries in Europe and Western and Central Asia are showing evidence of early influenza transmission, including in
Spain, Austria, parts of Northern Europe, Russia and Turkey. In Japan, influenza activity has also increased sharply, especially on the northern island, approximately 10 weeks ahead the usual start of the winter influenza season.
Pandemic influenza transmission remains active in many parts of the tropical zone of the Americas, most notably in several Caribbean countries. Overall transmission continues to decline in most but not all parts of the tropical zone of South and Southeast Asia.
Little influenza activity has been reported in temperate region of the southern hemisphere since the last update.
Pandemic influenza transmission remains active in many parts of the tropical zone of the Americas, most notably in several Caribbean countries. Overall transmission continues to decline in most but not all parts of the tropical zone of South and Southeast Asia.
Little influenza activity has been reported in temperate region of the southern hemisphere since the last update.
(Source: World Health Organization 30 October 2009)
Afghanistan: Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009
On 2 November, the government of Afghanistan announced emergency response level to the Pandemic Influenza situation of the country. All public and private educational institutions and child care centres will be closed for 3 weeks.
(Source: Xinhuanet 3 November 2009)
South Korea: Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009
On 3 November 2009, the government of South Korea announced serious alert level on the Pandemic Influenza situation of the country. Advance of school holidays or suspension of classes may be implemented if the situation among schools deteriorates.
(Source: Central News Agency 3 November 2009)
Ukraine: Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009
According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the country has now recorded more than 250, 000 cases of influenza-like illness, with 235 patients requiring intensive care. As of 2 November 2009, 70 deaths from acute respiratory illness have been reported.
(Source: World Health Organization 3 November 2009)
As of October 2009, the Ministry of Health of Indonesia has reported 15 human deaths caused by Rabies in Bali. Most human and animal Rabies cases have been confirmed near popular tourist destinations on the southern tip of Bali.
(Source: ProMED-mail 31 October 2009)
Philippines: Leptospirosis [update 1]
As of 27 October 2009, 2 894 cases of Leptospirosis with 210 deaths were reported in the Philippines. Manila was seriously affected.
(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre, UK 29 October 2009)
There were 30 fatal cases of Japanese Encephalitis in the northern state of Bihar in India so far this year, while 105 others were under treatment.
(Source: ProMED-mail 31 October 2009)
In South Africa, 1 034 cases of Measles with 4 deaths were reported in Gauteng province so far this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 October 2009)
Cape Verde Islands: Dengue fever
As of 28 October 2009, the Ministry of Health of Cape Verde Islands has reported 3 367 suspected cases of Dengue Fever in 4 islands: Brava, Fogo, Maio and Santiago. The first batch of samples tested positive of Dengue virus.
(Source: World Health Organization 30 October 2009)
As of 19 October, 1 869 confirmed cases of Dengue Fever with 8 deaths were reported in Nicaragua. The capital Managua was seriously affected.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 October 2009)