Current Travel Health News

Japanese encephalitis has killed at least 24 children in Malkangiri district of Odisha, India. Blood samples were collected from the affected children and 10 samples were tested positive for Japanese encephalitis virus.

Between January and September 2012, 589 cases of pertussis were confirmed in Bogota, Columbia with 23 children younger than 5 years old died of the infection.

A case of anthrax was reported in the Altai region of Russia in November 2012. A man contracted the disease after slaughtering a cow infected with anthrax spores.

In central and southern regions of Darfur, Sudan, outbreak of Yellow fever continued. According to the local health authority, number of cases has increased to more than 143 including 63 deaths.

(Source: ProMED-mail 6 November 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.