Current Travel Health News

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from the Ministry of Health (MoH) on December 30 concerning a suspected human case of influenza A (H5N1) Avian Influenza in Shenzhen.

The patient was a 39-year-old man living in Shenzhen. He developed symptoms on December 21 and was admitted to a hospital on December 25 because of severe pneumonia. The man had no travel history or contact with poultry before the onset of symptoms.

The CHP is maintaining close liaison with the Guangdong Department of Health to obtain more information on the case.

For more information, please refer to Centre for Health Protection website.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection 30 December 2011)

 In Shandong Province of China, a total of 938 Hantavirus infection cases with 24 deaths were reported in 2011. Most of the cases were recorded after October. Among the 24 fatal cases, 13 were reported in Qingdao. The provincial health bureau has mobilized campaigns to kill rats in the epidemic-affected area.

(Source: ProMED-Mail 31 December 2011)

Pakistan recorded more than 200 deaths of Dengue Fever.

(Source: ProMED-Mail 26 December 2011)

In Mexico, only 168 cases Dengue Fever cases were reported up to 22 December 2011. It is massively decreased compared to 1 172 cases at same period of last year.

(Source: ProMED-Mail 26 December 2011)

Up to the present, 41 000 cases Dengue Fever have been reported in Brazil this year. In all of 2010, 115 000 dengue cases were registered, a reduction of 65 percent compared to last year.

(Source: ProMED-Mail 26 December 2011)

A case of Brucellosis was diagnosed in a 2-year old girl after contacting dogs in Argentina. Her mother was also diagnosed to contract the disease.

(Source: Promed-Mail 28 December 2011)

An Australian tourist was confirmed to be infected with HIV on 23 December 2011. The source of infection was suspected to be the tattoo service received in Bali, Indonesia recently.

(Source: Promed Mail 27 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.