Current Travel Health News

In Haiti, health officials reported 194 people had died from Cholera in the Artibonite region, the main outbreak zone, with 14 other deaths in neighboring Central Plateau as of 23 October 2010. The total number of Cholera cases had reached 2 674. The outbreak has spread from a rural valley in central Haiti to the nation's capital, intensifying worries the disease will spread in tarp camps that house hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 October 2010)

Travellers to the affected areas should take the following measures to prevent food and water borne diseases:

• Wash and cook seafood thoroughly before eating, particularly crustaceans and bivalves such as shrimps, crabs, oysters and clams;

• Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet;

• Eat only thoroughly cooked food and food from sealed packs or cans;

• Avoid cold dishes such as salad and ice-cream;

• Drink only boiled water, canned or bottled drinks, pasteurized milk or dairy products;

• Do not add ice to drinks and do not drink fresh fruit juice that has been prepared beforehand;

• Do not patronize illegal food hawkers;

• Wash fruit thoroughly before eating and do not eat fruit that has already been peeled or cut open; and

• Follow proper water purification methods if necessary.

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 20 September 2010)

In view of a recent shooting incident involving tourists in New Dehli, India, the Hong Kong SAR Government issued an amber Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for India on 20 September. Those who plan to visit the country or already there should monitor the situation and exercise caution.

For more information, please visit the OTA webpage.

(Source: Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong SAR 20 September 2010)

As of 19 October 2010, at least 33 cases of Chukungunya Fever were reported in Delhi, India. All patients except one had never left the city before onset.

In addition, the total number of Dengue Fever cases has reached 4 614 in Delhi on 18 October 2010.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 October 2010)

(Editor's notes: Travellers to the affected areas should take the precautionary measures against mosquito bite by wearing long sleeved clothing and trousers, applying insect repellents containing DEET on the exposed parts of the body, and using mosquito screens or nets in rooms which are not air-conditioned. Travellers returning from these areas and develop symptoms of the disease should seek medical consultation immediately.)

Taiwan has confirmed 138 more cases of Dengue Fever in the recent week, bringing the total number of cases to 918 so far this year. Most of the cases were reported from Kaohsiung city.

(Source: Centres for Disease Control, Taiwan 19 October 2010)

Malaysia reported a total of 37 419 Dengue Fever cases with 117 deaths as of 2 October 2010. The number of dengue cases has increased by 17% compared to the same period last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 October 2010)

In Venezuela, a total of 34 741 cases of Malaria were reported in Bolivar state so far this year. This represented an increase of 60 percent as compared with the same period last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 October 2010)

In Nicaragua, 43 new cases of Leptospirosis have been registered recently, bringing the number cases of cases to 189 and 16 deaths. In addition, an increase in leptospirosis cases has been reported in the Departments of Leon and Esteli with a number of suspected deaths.

(Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom 15 October 2010 and Xinhua Net, China 20 October 2010 )

In Australia, 65 cases of Pertussis were reported in Gladstone, Queensland so far this year. This represented a 6-fold increase as compared with the same period last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 October 2010)

As of 6 October 2010, the Department of Health of Guangdong Province in Mainland has confirmed 42 cases of Chikungunya Fever in the city of Dongguan. Meanwhile, another 178 suspected cases are still waiting for test results. All the patients are in stable condition and there are no severe cases and deaths reported so far.

(Source: Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China 8 October 2010)

(Editor's notes: Travellers to Chikungunya-endemic areas should avoid visiting mosquito-infested places, and take the precautionary measures against mosquito bite by wearing long sleeved clothing and trousers, applying insect repellents containing DEET on the exposed parts of the body, and using mosquito screens or nets in rooms which are not air-conditioned. Travellers returning from these areas and develop symptoms of the disease should seek medical consultation immediately.)