Current Travel Health News

Australia reported 10 cases of Murray Valley Encephalitis in the Western Australia state's Kimberley and Pilbara regions this year. One of them died of the disease.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 August 2011)

[Editor note: Murray Valley Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Murray Valley Encephalitis virus. It mainly occurs in northern part of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Water birds like herons are the reservoirs of the virus. Persons bitten by infected mosquitoes may develop the disease. The incubation period is usually 1 to 2 weeks. It usually causes a mild disease with symptoms like fever, headache, nausea and vomiting; few people may develop meningitis or encephalitis. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine available. Preventive measure is mosquito prevention.]

Canada reported 11 cases of Mumps since 20 July 2011 in Toronto. The index case of this cluster travelled from Vancouver to Toronto on 3 June 2011 and developed symptoms on 9 June 2011. Transmission was initially confined to employees and patrons at the Toronto financial district restaurant where the index case worked, but has now spread to other sites.

(Source: ProMED-mail 9 August 2011)

In China, an outbreak of Anthrax affecting 21 people was reported in Liaoning province.

(Source: ProMED-mail 11 August 2011)

Egypt announced a new case of human H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The case was a 6-year-old girl from Demnhoor district, Behira governorate. She developed symptoms on 12 July 2011 and was hospitalized. She had recovered and discharged from hospital on 30 July 2011. Of the 151 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 52 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 9 August 2011)

Indonesia reported one more case of human Rabies in Bali. The victim was a 39-year-old man who was admitted to hospital on 4 August 2011 and died on the following day. The man was the 18th fatality attributed to rabies in Bali in 2011.

(Source: ProMED-mail 10 August 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)

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