Current Travel Health News

WHO reported that, as of 21 July 2011, 3 167 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 908 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a total of 4 075 cases have been reported in 16 countries in Europe and North America. There were 3 935 cases reported in Germany alone, with 48 deaths. However, the number of new cases in Germany and France is much diminished.

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: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe 22 July 2011)

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

Cholera outbreaks are being reported along the Congo River, affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. In Democratic Republic of the Congo, as of 20 July 2011, a total of 3 896 cases, including 265 deaths were reported. The provinces affected included Bandundu, Equateur, Kinshasa and P Orientale. In the Republic of Congo, between 14 June and 20 July 2011, a total of 181 suspected cases including 6 deaths were reported from four provinces (Brazzaville, Cuvette, Likouala and Plateaux).

(Source: World Health Organization 22 July 2011)

As of 16 July, Singapore has reported 2 758 cases of Dengue Fever this year.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 20 July 2011)

Philippines reported a total of 29 898 cases of Dengue Fever with 185 deaths in the first half of this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 July 2011)

More than 21 000 cases of Measles were reported in Europe in the first half of this year. Out of which, most of the cases were reported from France (12 699), Spain (2 261), Romania (1 619), Italy (over 1 500) and Germany (1 193).

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 July 2011)

In Vietnam, outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection among poultries were reported in Quang Tri and Pho Tho. A total of 3 704 birds were culled.

(Source: World Organization for Animal Health 18 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)