Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (10 October 2011)
Russia: Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
In recent months, Russia has reported an increased number of cases of Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. As of 27 September, 357 cases, including three deaths, have been reported since the beginning of 2011 in Udmurt (Udmurtskaya) Republic.
(Source: NaTHNaC 6 October 2011)
In Mexico, the health authorities in the state of Guanajuato reported 19 cases of Hepatitis A in the towns of Leon and Dolores Hidalgo.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 October 2011)
The cumulative death toll due to encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh of India has risen to 376 in 2011. Japanese Encephalitis, which is caused by mosquito bite, was one of the most prevailing encephalitis in the region.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4 October 2011)
As of 3 October 2011, a total of 100 persons infected with Listeria monocytogenes have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 20 states in USA. To prevent infection, CDC recommends that consumers do not eat Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupe from Jensen Farms.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 October 2011)
As of 1 October, the Ministry of Health of Singapore has reported 4 413 cases of Dengue Fever and 17 cases of Haemorrhagic Dengue Fever this year.
(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 5 October 2011)
The Malaria cases were on the rise in Sindh province of Pakistan after the rains with the total number of malaria cases up to 11 985. Sindh Malaria Control Programme director claimed that aggressive fumigation had been carried out to kill mosquitoes and control the spread of the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 October 2011)
Since August 2011, there have been nine cases of Legionnaires' Disease in the United Kingdom and all linked to travel to Corfu of Greece.
(Source: ProMED-mail 8 October 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)
Philippines: Black Travel Alert
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.