Current Travel Health News

The health official of Vietnam announced a new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The victim was a 32-year-old man living in Ninh Binh Province. He was hospitalized on 13 February and had contact with poultry before onset of illness.

(Source: Xinhuanet 16 February 2009)

In Vietnam, an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza which killed 27 birds was reported in a farm in Khanh Hoa province.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2009)

In Jhapa of Nepal, another outbreak of Avian Influenza which killed 150 birds was reported.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 20 February 2009)

In United Kingdom, a Mumps outbreak affecting 66 university students has been identified in Chichester.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 February 2009)

In Vietnam, about 3 000 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year. The seriously affected provinces included Dong Nai and Tien Giang.

In Thailand, 1 675 cases of Dengue Fever with 2 deaths were reported in the country in January this year. The most affected areas included Bangkok, Songkhla, Pattani and Yala.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 February 2009)

In Brazil, 4 272 cases of Dengue Fever with 4 deaths were reported in Bahia state so far this year and 3 212 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in Espiritu Santo state in January this year.

In Bolivia, 15 800 cases of Dengue Fever and 64 cases of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever were reported in the country. Authorities have declared a health emergency in the departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Cochabamba.

In Guyana, 115 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 16 February 2009)

In USA, an outbreak of Meningococcal Meningitis affecting at least 3 students of the University of Pennsylvania was reported.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 February 2009)

As of 18 February 2009, 1 248 cases of Meningococcal Meningitis have been reported in Burkina Faso, of whom 178 died.

(Source: Xinhuanet 20 February 2009)

In India, at least 230 persons died of Meningococcal Meningitis in the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram over the past one month.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 February 2009)

As of 8 February 2009, 1 364 suspected cases of Meningococcal Disease including 108 deaths were reported in Nigeria.
(Source: World Health Organization 19 February 2009)

In Nigeria, an outbreak of Lassa fever affecting 229 persons with 30 deaths was reported.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 February 2009)

A bomb attack happened in Cairo, Egypt on 22 February evening, resulting in 4 deaths and 17 injured. In view of the attack in Egypt, the HKSAR Government reminded Hong Kong residents who plan to visit Egypt should pay close attention to the situation there. Those who are already there should attend to their personal safety and avoid places where there are large gatherings of people. Residents who need assistance while outside Hong Kong may call the hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at (852)1868.

(Source: Xinhuanet and Security Bureau, HKSAR Government 23 February 2009)

In Angola, an outbreak of Rabies which killed 69 children was reported in the capital Luanda.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2009)

In Colombia, 2 fatal human cases of Yellow Fever were reported in the Department of Meta between December last year and January this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2009)