Current Travel Health News

In north Queensland, Australia, 25 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in East Innisfail.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2011)

As of 16 February 2011, 952 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in Jakarta, Indonesia. This figure was lower than the same period last year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2011)

In Cambodia, two fatal human cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza were reported in Banteay Meanchey Province. The victims were mother and son who died on 12 February and 17 February respectively. They had travelled from their home to Prey Veng Province on 3 January. They had multiple exposures to sick and dead poultry between the second half of January and early February. Of the 13 cases confirmed to date in Cambodia, 11 had been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 February 2011)

In Papua New Guinea, the outbreak of Cholera which began in 2009 has already killed 483 people and infected more than 10 000 people.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2011)

Peru reported 8 children deaths due to Rabies in Bagua province in Amazonas region. This outbreak was transmitted through the bite of infected bats.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 and 25 February 2011)

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service of New Zealand reported one confirmed Measles case who was a passenger on board the Malaysian Airlines flight MH131 which flew from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland Airport on 18 February 2011. The health service was now contacting other passengers on board the same flight.

(Source: ProMED-mail 26 February 2011)

In Switzerland, 26 cases of Measles were reported in Geneva so far this year. The neighbouring area Rhone-Alpes in France also reported around 2 000 cases of the disease.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2011)

In the Philippines, at least 7 cases of Measles were reported in South Cotabato province.

(Source: ProMED-mail 26 February 2011)

Turkey reported an outbreak of Measles. A total of 24 cases have been reported. They were all Turks including 4 health service employees and 4 infants. No death case was reported.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 February 2011)

In central Norway, 13 cases of Tularemia were reported so far this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 25 February 2011)

In the United Kingdom, a total of 119 Mumps cases have been notified in the Oban area, Scotland since November 2010. Three cases had complications (orchitis, pancreatitis). The index case was an university student who had returned home for holidays. Many of the initial cases had attended a school dance and a large party in Oban.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 February 2011)

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)

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)