Current Travel Health News

The Secretary for Food and Health Bureau yesterday (December 20) announced that a chicken carcass sample taken from the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market was tested positive of the highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza virus during regular surveillance of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. The Government has raised the response level for avian influenza from ‘Alert to ‘Serious’ and implemented a series of enhanced surveillance and control measures on human and poultry health.

For more information, please refer to the websites of Health Bureau and Centre for Health Protection.

(Source: Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong 21 December 2011)

The Ministry of Health of Egypt has notified WHO of 2 cases of human infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus. The two cases are a mother and her young child from Dakahlia Governate. Both developed symptoms on 26 November and were admitted to hospital. The mother died on 3 December. The child is in stable condition.

(Source: World Health Organization 15 December 2011)

Canada reported 91 cases of confirmed Hepatitis A cases since last month. The majority of victims are centered in the Port Alberni/West Coast region, with some cases in other parts of Vancouver Island.

(Source: Promed-Mail 13 December 2011)

India reported 237 confirmed and 726 suspected cases of Hepatitis A so far this year. Only 36 confirmed cases of Hepatitis A were reported last year.

(Source: Promed-Mail 13 December 2011)

Mexico reported a Hepatitis A outbreak in Veracruz. Nearly 100 children were infected. Health Department had implemented proper sanitary measures and epidemic emergency units had already been deployed in the affected areas.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 December 2011)

Up to 7 December 2011, Ecuador reported 11 deaths due to Rabies transmitted by wild animals including bat

(Source: ProMED-Mail 12 December 2011)

Between March 2010 and August 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has confirmed 5 patients suffered from Legionnaires' Disease. All of them had been guests in Saint Thomas, Virgin Island, United States. All patients recovered.

(Source: Promed-Mail 14 December 2011)

Vietnam confirmed an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) attributed to human Enterovirus 71 (EV71). As of mid-October 2011, Viet Nam had reported 80 000 cases of HFMD and 137 deaths.

(Source: Promed-Mail 14 December 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.