Current Travel Health News

Egypt announced three new cases of human infection with H5N1 Avian Influenza. The patients were a 28-year-old woman from Manshaet district, an 11-year-old girl from Esna district of Luxor governorate, and a 56-year-old woman from Sharqia governorate.  Of the 116 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 38 have been fatal.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 December 2010 & WHO 29 December 2010)

In South Korea, an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza was reported in a poultry farm in North Jeolla province and another one was reported in South Chungcheong province.  The two provinces had reported wild birds carrying the virus in December last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 1 January 2011)

In the United Kingdom, Influenza activity continued to increase across the country. The influenza-like-illness consultation rates were above the baseline levels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Influenza A H1N1 (2009) and B were the predominant circulating viruses with few, sporadic Influenza A (H3N2) viruses detected.

(Source: Health Protection Agency 30 December 2010)

The outbreak of Cholera continued in Haiti.  As of 29 December, over 130 000 cases and 2 761 deaths due to the disease were reported.

(Source: ProMED-mail 29 December 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

Uganda last week put out an alert on Yellow Fever that had hit the 10 districts in the region last month. The latest report put the death toll at 49 while 191 were hospitalized. Uganda has had no reported yellow fever cases for some 40 years.

(Source: ProMED-mail 30 December 2010)

In Cote d'Ivoire, an outbreak of Yellow Fever which killed 9 people and affected many others was reported in the Department of Seguela.

(Source: ProMED-mail 1 January 2011)

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)