Current Travel Health News

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam reported a new confirmed human case of Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus. The case was a 22-year-old male patient who lived and worked in Binh Duong province. He developed symptoms on 17 February. He is currently still in hospital. Investigation indicated that the man was involved in the slaughter and consumption of ducks.

To date, of the 122 confirmed cases in Vietnam, 61 have been fatal.

(Source: WHO 5 March 2012)

The health authority of Bangladesh confirmed 2 new cases of human infection with Avian Influenza  (H5N1) virus. These are the 5^th and 6^th cases reported in the country since 2008. These 2 cases, 26 year-old and 18 year-old males, presented with history of cough, and both had recovered. They were identified in the same live bird market surveillance site in Dhaka City as the 4^thAvian Influenza case recently reported.

(Source: WHO 7 March 2012)

At least 50 people had died of Rabies in the recent weeks in a reported outbreak in the south west district of Indonesia's Maluku province, the local officials said.

(Source: Promed Mail 6 March 2012)

A Cholera outbreak in western Guinea recorded 83 cases and caused at least 14 deaths in a month.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 March 2012)

At least 20 people died as a result of a Cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone. More than 1 000 cases had been recorded in the northern region of the country.

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 March 2012)

The Nigeria Bayelsa State Ministry of Health identified Malaria (totally 102 deaths) as the leading cause of death that occurred in 35 different diseases under the surveillance in the state in 2011.

(Source: Promed Mail 03 March 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.

(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 website.