Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (29 June 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: Influenza A (H1N1), human
As of 29 June, 2009, 109 countries have officially reported 70 893 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) infection, including 311 deaths. United States has announced 27 717 confirmed infection with 127 deaths. Mexico has reported 8 279 laboratory confirmed cases, including 116 deaths. Argentina has reported 1 488 confirmed infection with 23 deaths. Canada has reported 7 775 confirmed infection with 21 deaths. Australia has reported 4 038 confirmed infection with 7 deaths. Chile has reported 5 186 confirmed infection with 7 deaths. Colombia has reported 88 confirmed infection with 2 deaths. Dominican Republic has reported 108 confirmed infection with 2 deaths. Guatemala has reported 254 confirmed infection with 2 deaths.
Costa Rica has reported 255 confirmed infection with one death. Honduras has reported 118 confirmed infection with one death. The Philippines has reported 861 confirmed infection with one death. United Kingdom has reported 4 250 confirmed infection with one death.
The following countries has announced laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Algeria(2), Antigua and Barbuda(2), Austria(12), Bahamas(4), Bahrain(15), Bangladesh(1), Barbados(10), Belgium(43), Bermuda, UKOT(1), Bolivia(126), Brazil(452), British Virgin Islands, UKOT(1), Brunei Darussalam(29), Bulgaria(7), Cambodia(6), Cape Verde(3), Cayman Islands, UKOT(9), China(1442), Cote d’Ivoire(2), Cuba(34), Cyprus(25), Czech Republic(9) Denmark(44), Dominica(1), Ecuador(125), Egypt(50), El
Salvador(226), Estonia(13), Ethiopia(2), Fiji(2), Finland(26), France(235), Germany(366), Greece(86), Hungary(8), Iceland(4), India(64), Indonesia(8), Iran(1), Iraq(10), Ireland(39), Israel(469), Italy(112), Jamaica(21), Japan(1212), Jordan(18), Republic of Korea(202), Kuwait(30), Laos(3), Latvia(1), Lebanon(25), Lithuania(1), Luxembourg(4), Malaysia(112), Monaco(1), Montenegro(1), Morocco(11), Nepal(3),
Netherlands(118), New Zealand(587), Nicaragua(277), Norway(31), Oman(3), Panama(403), Papua New Guinea(1), Paraguay(85), Peru(360), Poland(14), Portugal(11), Qatar(10), Romania(24), Russia(3), Samoa(1), Saudi Arabia(69), Serbia(5), Singapore(599), Slovakia(9), Slovenia(4), South Africa(1), Spain(541), Sri Lanka(9), Suriname(11), Sweden(67), Switzerland(49), Thailand(774), Trinidad and Tobago(53), Tunisia(2), Turkey(27), Ukraine(1),
United Arab Emirates(8), Uruguay(195), Vanuatu(2), Venezuela(172), Vietnam(84), West Bank and Gaza Strip(9) and Yemen(6).
(Source: World Health Organization 29 June 2009)
Vietnam: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Vietnam, an outbreak of Avian Influenza affecting more than 500 birds was reported in Quang Ninh province.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 June 2009)
Indonesia: Avian Influenza, poultry
Indonesia reported at least 20 villages in Purbalingga regency of Central Java have been hit with cases of Avian Influenza. More than 1000 infected chickens had been culled between January and May by local authorities.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 June 2009)
Russia: Avian Influenza, poultry
Russia confirmed an outbreak of Avian Influenza in Respublika Tyva, where 58 wild birds were found death.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 24 June 2009)
Saudi Arabia has reported 691 Dengue Fever cases so far this year in Jeddah alone.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 June 2009)
Up to 1 June 2009, Espirito Santo of Brazil has reported 43 536 cases of Dengue Fever with 33 deaths.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 June 2009)
More than 21 000 people in Viet Nam have contracted Dengue Fever so far this year, with 20 deaths. The figures show a 46.7 percent increase when compared with the same period last year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 June 2009)
In the Upper East region of Ghana, 9 people contracted Anthrax. Out of which, 2 people died.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 June 2009)