Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (11 August 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)
In Myanmar, 838 cases of Dengue Fever with 6 deaths were reported in Yangon during the first half of this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 August 2009)
In Sri Lanka, 20 576 cases of Dengue Fever and 224 deaths were reported so far this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 August 2009)
In Viet Nam, 36 046 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year. Southern provinces were hardest hit by the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 August 2009)
In Mexico, an outbreak of Dengue Fever affecting at least 100 people was reported in Hidalgo.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 August 2009)
Indonesia: Avian Influenza, human
In Indonesia, a suspected human case of Avian Influenza infection was reported in Bali. The victim was a 15-year-old female who had contact with dead chickens before falling ill. The dead chickens were later found to be positive for H5N1 Avian Influenza virus.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 August 2009)
In France, a total of 15 cattle and 2 horses died of Anthrax in Savoy, where an outbreak of the disease was found in 11 farms at the end of last week.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 August 2009)
In India, an outbreak of Malaria was reported in the Eastern part of the country with more than 600 cases and 6 deaths.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10 August 2009)