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)

The Ministry of Health of Egypt announced four new human cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The cases were a 1-year-old boy from Behira Governorate, 3-year-old girl from Behira Governorate, 34-year-old female from Alexandria Governorate, and a 30-year-old female from Kafr El-Shaikh Governorate respectively. Of the 137 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 45 had been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 6 April 2011)

In Cambodia, one fatal human case of Avian Influenza was reported in Kompong Cham province. The victim was an 11-year-old girl who developed symptoms on 22 March 2011and died on 31 March 2011.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 April 2011)

In South Korea, outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza were reported among 13 200 birds in an egg-laying farm in Yeongcheon of North Gyeongsang province.

(Source: ProMED-mail 9 April 2011)

In India, 137 fatal cases of Malaria were recorded in Mumbai in the past one year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 April 2011)

Philippines reported a total of 13 281 cases of Dengue Fever in the first two months this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 April 2011)

Paraguay reported a total of 3898 cases of Dengue Fever this year, resulting in 20 deaths.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 April 2011)

Cambodia reported a total of 231 cases of Dengue Fever in the first three months of this year resulting in 2 deaths, as compared with 193 cases and one death over the same period last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 April 2011)

Malaysia reported a total of 111 cases of Cholera with 2 serious cases so far this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 April 2011)

Death toll due to Cholera in Haiti has reached 4 672, since the first case was detected in October 2010. A total of 252 640 people were infected and 136 407 were hospitalized.

(Source: ProMED-mail 4 April 2011)

As the situation in Bahrain 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 16 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)