Current Travel Health News

The European Food Safety Authority had concluded that a specific lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt was the most likely common link between the two outbreaks of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli O104:H4 in Germany and France.

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

For updated information, please refer to website of WHO.

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 July 2011)

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

As of 9 July, Singapore has reported 2 545 cases of Dengue Fever this year.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 13 July 2011)

Comoros, an island nation in eastern Africa has reported 103 670 cases of Malaria so far in 2011, of which 76 060 were from Grande Comore, the largest island in the Comoros, followed by 24 050 cases on Anjoun and 3 350 cases at Moheli, compared with 57 084 cases in 2010 in the Comoros. The Comoros had an estimated population of 681 000 in 2010.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 July 2011)

In Taiwan, 1 more case of Japanese Encephalitis has been reported, making a total of 4 cases so far this year. The latest case was reported from Pingtung.

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 July 2011)

India reported a fatal case of Rabies. The victim was a 7-year-old boy from the district of Kollam. A bite by a wild squirrel three months ago was suspected to be the cause of his death.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 July 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)