Current Travel Health News

As of 24 September, the Ministry of Health of Singapore has reported 4 336 cases of Dengue Fever and 16 cases of Haemorrhagic Dengue Fever this year.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 29 September 2011)

On 22 September 2011 a 45-year-old man from Makanchi of Kazakhstan was hospitalised with suspected Anthrax and was laboratory confirmed on 26 September. Quarantine measures were set up in the village of Makanchi in Urdzharsky district of East Kazakhstan where 19 people were exposed to possible anthrax and were under medical surveillance.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 September 2011)

Estonia has reported an increase in Hepatitis A cases in 2011 with a notable peak since August 2011. As of 26 September, a total of 62 cases of hepatitis A have been reported, including 13 new cases in the week 19 - 25 September.

(Source: NaTHNaC 28 September 2011)

In 2011 there has been an increase in the number of cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in East and South East Asia. There has been high activity in Viet Nam, Japan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, China (including mainland China and Macao). Hong Kong (China) and Singapore report ongoing activity.

(Source: NaTHNaC 28 September 2011)

In USA, the Adams County Health Department reported several cases of Mumps at Quincy University.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 September 2011)

At least 13 people in 8 states have died after eating cantaloupe contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes in USA. Many of the deaths involved elderly people who were especially susceptible to the aggressive pathogen. The cantaloupes were grown by a Colorado company which issued a recall in early September.

(Source: ProMED-mail 30 September 2011)

The World Health Organization and the Minister for Health of Uganda confirmed the outbreak of a Yellow Fever epidemic in northern Uganda.

(Source: ProMED-mail 26 September 2011)

As widespread violent clashes occurred in many cities across Syria, including Daraa, Latakia, Damascus, Baniyas, Aleppo, Homs and Hama, resulting in serious casualties, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for Syria to Black. Residents are urged to avoid all travel to the country. Those already there should attend to their personal safety and avoid protests and large gatherings of people.

For more information, please visit the OTA webpage.

(Source: Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong SAR 26 April 2011)

Following the hostage taking incident in the Philippines which had caused casualties, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 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)

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization webpage.