Current Travel Health News

Egypt announced three new cases of human H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. One of the cases, a 45-year-old male had died and the other two cases are in stable condition. Of the 125 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 41 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 28 February 2011)

Indonesia had reported 124 fatal cases of human Rabies in Bali. The Bali government has embarked on a campaign to vaccinate nearly 400 000 dogs in an effort to eradicate rabies by 2012. Cases of dog bites had fallen from about 200 a day to 130.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 February 2011)

As of 24 February 2011, 23 confirmed cases of Poliomyelitis were reported worldwide, with 10 in endemic countries and 13 in non-endemic countries. The disease remains endemic in four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.

(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre, UK 1 March 2011)

In Indonesia, outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Influenza among poultries were reported in several cities and regencies in West Java.

(Source: ProMED-mail 1 March 2011)

Indonesia has announced one new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The victim was a 26-year-old female from West Java Province. She developed symptoms on 30 January and was hospitalized on 3 February. She died on 8 February. A total of 172 cases with 142 deaths have been reported in Indonesia so far.

(Source: World Health Organization 2 March 2011)

In Myanmar, an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza which killed 626 chickens was reported in a farm Sagaing. The remaining 6 074 chickens were culled.

(Source: World Organization for Animal Health 4 March 2011)

In Palestine, an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza was reported in a turkey flock in West Bank. The mortality of infected turkey is very high.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 March 2011)

In USA, the number of people who have fallen ill after a conference held in Santa Monica, Los Angeles has reached 200. Affected people developed symptoms mostly consisting of fever, chills, malaise and some cough. The authority suspected that it is an outbreak of Legionellosis.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 March 2011)

In Indonesia, one suspected human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza was reported from West Sumatera province.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 March 2011)

On 2 March 2011, the health department of USA confirmed the second case of Dengue Fever acquired locally in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The first case was reported in November last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 March 2011)

After the report of one German tourist acquired Dengue Fever in Peljesac peninsula, Croatia, 15 more local cases of the disease were identified in the peninsula.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 March 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)

As the situation in Egypt continues to deteriorate, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has raised the outbound travel alert (OTA) for the country to black. Hong Kong 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 30 January 2011)