Current Travel Health News

WHO reported that, as of 21 July 2011, 3 167 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 908 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a total of 4 075 cases have been reported in 16 countries in Europe and North America. There were 3 935 cases reported in Germany alone, with 48 deaths. However, the number of new cases in Germany and France is much diminished.

WHO recommends normal hygiene measures should be observed, hand washing after toilet use and before touching food. (Please refer to the websites of Travel Health Service and Centre for Health Protection for information on hygiene measures and hand washing respectively.) Anyone who has developed bloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and who has had contact recently with Germany, should seek medical advice urgently.

For updated information, please refer to website of WHO.

(Source: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe 22 July 2011)

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

In Egypt, a new case of human infection with H5N1 Avian Influenza was reported from Al Beheira governorate.

(Source: ProMED-mail 3 August 2011)

In Vietnam, outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection among poultries were reported in Nghe An.

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

In Cambodia, a total of 4 626 cases of Dengue Fever with 23 children’s deaths were reported in the country so far this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 1 August 2011)

In Sri Lanka, a total of 13 975 cases of Dengue Fever with 112 deaths were reported in the country so far this year. Colombo was seriously affected with 5 454 patients and 51 deaths.

(Source: ProMED-mail 1 August 2011)

There have been reports of an increase in incidences of Dengue Fever in Panama City, Panama.

(Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom 29 July 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)