Current Travel Health News

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia and World Health Organization were investigating the outbreak of an undiagnosed illness in Cambodia. After the final review, since April 2012, there were 59 children affected with neuro-respiratory syndrome, of which 52 had died. The age of the cases range from 3 months to 11 years old, with majority being under 3 years old. All laboratory samples were found negative for H5N1 and other influenza viruses, SARS, and Nipah. The investigation is ongoing.

(Source: World Health Organization 8 July 2012)

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia had notified World Health Organization of a new case of human infection with Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus. The case was a 8 year-old girl from the province of West Java. She developed symptoms on 18 June and died on 3 July. Investigation revealed that she had contact with poultry in a market.

To date, the total number of cases in Indonesia is now 190 with 158 fatalities.

In An Giang Province, Vietnam, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic continued. There had been 7 children died of the disease and 1 300 infectious cases reported.

(Source: ProMED-mail 1 July 2012)

The Cuban government reported that 53 people contracted Cholera in Manzanillo, a city in the eastern province of Granma, with 3 deaths. The local supply of drinking water from several polluted wells might be the cause.

(Source: ProMED-mail 3 July 2012) 

Over 1 000 persons were affected following the outbreak of Chikungunya Fever in Jalpaiguri district, India in past 2 months.

(Source: ProMED-mail 1 July 2012)

The Nigeria government reported that there are high numbers of Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) cases in the southern part of Bargu area of Kebbi state.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 July 2012)

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.

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.

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