Current Travel Health News

In Australia, 15 cases of Measles were reported in Victoria so far this year. Out of which, 8 cases were imported from foreign countries.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 February 2011)

In Bangladesh, an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza which killed 2 530 birds was reported in a poultry farm in Rangpur. A total of 11 747 birds were culled.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2011)

In India, an outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza which killed 2 198 birds was reported in a poultry farm in Tripura. A total of 2 000 birds were culled.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2011)

In view of the recent cases of Poliomyelitis detected in West Bengal, India, the health authority had conducted a new round of immunization against the disease in five districts across the state including Kolkata.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 February 2011)

In Madagascar, an epidemic of pneumonic plague occurred in the region east of Beramanja. The first suspected case appeared on 27 January 2011, followed by the first death 2 days later. Sixteen deaths have been reported so far.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 February 2011)

In South Korea, outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza were reported in two farms in Gyeonggi-do.

(Source: World Organization for Animal Health 18 February 2011)

In Bangladesh, 31 fatal cases of Nipah encephalitis were reported in the country so far this year.

[Editor's note: Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals or directly from human-to-human. Infected people initially develop influenza-like symptoms of fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. In severe cases, complications may happen such as encephalitis. There is no treatment or vaccine available.]

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 February 2011)

In Indonesia, 15 cases of Leptospirosis including 4 deaths were reported in Bantul, Yogyakarta province on Java island in January this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 February 2011)

Indonesia had reported 195 fatal cases of human Rabies in the whole country last year. Out of which, Bali had reported 119 fatal cases.

[Editor's notes: Travellers should avoid contact with animals. Immunisation (both pre-exposure and post-exposure), combined with thorough wound cleaning, is the most reliable methods of preventing rabies. Travellers visiting Bali with prolonged stay or anticipated contact with animals should seek medical consultation for pre-travel health advice and pre-exposure rabies vaccination if indicated.]

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 February 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)

As the situation in Egypt 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 30 January 2011)