Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (23 August 2010)
Philippines: Black Travel Alert
Following the hostage taking incident in the Philippines which had caused casualties, the Hong Kong SAR 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 23 August 2010)
Worldwide: Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009
The situation in New Zealand and India remains largely unchanged. Influenza H1N1 (2009) virus transmission remains locally intense in parts of India and New Zealand.
For more information, please visit WHO website.
(Source: World Health Organization 20 August 2010)
In Thailand, 383 cases of Dengue Fever have been reported in Phuket so far this year. Only 309 cases were reported in the whole year in 2009. Moreover, a total of 54 592 dengue fever cases with 63 deaths were reported nationwide as of 13 August.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 & 19 Aug 2010 )
Vietnam: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Vietnam, outbreaks of Avian Influenza among poultries have been reported in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Thai Nguyen and Quang Nam provinces.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 17 August 2010)
In the USA, a rodent found in the Plumas Eureka State Park area in California has tested positive for Plague. This is the first sign of plague activity in Plumas County in many years. No cases of human plague have been reported at the present time. The most important wild rodents that can carry plague are squirrels (especially ground squirrels), chipmunks, wood rats, mice, and marmots.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 August 2010)
In Canada, 90 cases of Viral Meningitis have been reported in Alberta since April this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 August 2010)
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 August 2010)
In Bangladesh, at least 38 people have fallen sick after being exposed to Anthrax contaminated beef in Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20 August 2010)
Greece: West Nile Virus Infection [Update]
As of 20 August, Greece has confirmed 92 human cases of West Nile Virus Infection, including 8 deaths.
(Source: ProMED-mail 21 August 2010)