Current Travel Health News

According to preliminary information from the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization, the majority of the rubella cases have been reported from urban areas in Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi and Hyogo prefectures. As of 5 September 2012, the majority of rubella cases in Japan have affected adult males, with 1 082 of 1 419 cases being male.

Besides being vaccinated against rubella, to prevent rubella members of the public are advised to:

• * Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• * Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• * Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• * Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing; and
• * Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly.

If travellers develop symptoms of rubella, they should consult doctors promptly and reveal their travel history.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong 13 September 2012)

According to the information from Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, there was a recent increase in the number of rubella cases in Japan. As of September 5, a total of 1419 rubella cases were reported compared with 371 cases reported in the corresponding period in 2011.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong 12 September 2012)

In the Mainland, one fatal human case of Bubonic Plague was reported in Ganzizhou, Sichuan Province. The victim died on 7 September after eating a dead marmot on 2 September.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong 10 September 2012)

In India, a suspected outbreak of diphtheria affecting more than 500 children with 5 deaths was reported in Haryana. The health officials reported that the victims were not vaccinated against the disease.

(Source: ProMED-mail 8 September 2012)

As of 3 September 2012, a total of 28 cases of Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever including 14 deaths had been reported in Province Orientale of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Out of which, eight were confirmed cases.

(Source: World Health Organization 5 September 2012)

An outbreak of West Nile Virus infection affecting 21 people with one death was reported in Serbia.

(Source: ProMED-mail 5 September 2012)

The outbreak of West Nile Virus infection continued to affect Texas of the USA. Up to now, 1 013 cases with 40 deaths were reported in the state while 1 590 cases with 65 deaths were reported in the whole country.

 (Source: ProMED-mail 5 September 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 webpage.