Current Travel Health News

WHO reported that, as of 10 June 2011, 2 440 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 809 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a total of 3 249 cases have been reported in 14 countries in Europe. There were 3 147 cases reported in Germany alone, with 34 deaths. The majority of these cases had recently visited northern Germany. German authorities stated that mounting epidemiological and food-chain evidence indicated that bean and seed sprouts are the vehicle of the outbreak in Germany. The authorities now recommend that people in Germany should not eat raw bean and seed sprouts of any origin.

WHO recommends normal hygiene measures should be observed, hand washing after toilet use and before touching food. (Please refer 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 northern Germany, should seek medical advice urgently.

For updated information, please refer to website of WHO.

(Source: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe 11 June 2011)

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

Cambodia announced a new case of human infection with H5N1 Avian Influenza. The case was a 7-year-old girl from Prey Veng Province. She developed symptoms on 24 May and died on 7 June. There had been reports of poultry die off in her village. Of the 16 cases confirmed to date in Cambodia, 14 had been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 June 2011)

Egypt announced a new case of human infection with H5N1 Avian Influenza. The case came from Cairo and died. Of the 145 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 49 had been fatal.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 June 2011)

In Vietnam, an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection was reported in Lang Son Province, 1 008 birds were culled.

(Source: World Organization for Animal Health 7 June 2011)

WHO reported that Chad is experiencing outbreaks of Poliomyelitis casued by wild poliovirus type 1 and wild poliovirus type 3.

WHO recommends that travellers to and from Chad should be fully protected by vaccination.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 June 2011)

As of 4 June, Singapore has reported 1 739 cases of Dengue Fever this year.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 8 June 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)