Current Travel Health News

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

Following an incident occurred at a nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan on 12 March 2011, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for Fukushima Prefecture and 3 more prefectures (Miyagi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture) to Black on 12 March and 15 March respectively. Residents in Hong Kong or Japan are urged to avoid all travel to Fukushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture. Those already in Japan should pay attention to the announcement of local government and take practicable measures to attend to their personal safety.

For more information, please visit the OTA webpage.

(Source: Security Bureau, Government of Hong Kong SAR 12 and 15 March 2011)

In Baringo and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties of Kenya, 9 of the 16 people tested for Yellow Fever virus were found positive. Six people died of the disease so far this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 2 May 2011)

In Sri Lanka, a total of 3 784 cases of Dengue Fever with 32 deaths have been reported so far this year. Colombo was seriously affected.

(Source: ProMED-mail 2 May 2011)

As of 4 May, the Ministry of Health of Singapore has reported 1 208 cases of Dengue Fever this year.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 4 May 2011)

As of 29 April, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia has reported 6 646 cases of Dengue Fever this year, of whom 11 died.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Malaysia 29 April 2011)

Taiwan has reported 34 confirmed case of Rubella so far this year, a new 12-year high. 25 of them were contracted overseas. The majority were from Viet Nam, including 6 tourists.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 May 2011)

In the United Kingdom, a total of 135 confirmed cases of Measles had been reported in the country in the first three months of this year. Most of the cases had recent history of foreign travel before falling ill.

(Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom 5 May 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)