Current Travel Health News

The health authority of Egypt notified WHO of a new case of human infection with Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus. The case was a 36 year-old female from Giza Governorate. She developed symptoms on 1 April and died on 7 April. Investigations indicated that the case had exposure to backyard poultry.

Of the 167 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 60 have been fatal.

(Source: WHO 12 April 2012)

Outbreaks of Pertussis (whooping cough) were detected in Montana, Washington, Texas and Colorado of the United States.

(Source: Promed Mail 10 April 2012)

The health officials of the United States reported 8 recent cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Arizona.

[Editor's note: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is transmitted by the bite of infective ticks. Its incubation period ranges from 3 to 10 days. Patient may present with fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea and skin rash. Travellers should adopt measures similar to anti-mosquito measures to avoid tick bite.]

(Source: Promed Mail 11 April 2012)

Filariasis is endemic in Indonesia but there was a recent discovery of a town in East Kalimantan where nearly everyone is infected. Recent tests showed 210 of the 300 inhabitants of Sebakung Jaya village in North Penajam Paser district had the Filariasis parasite.

(Source: Promed Mail 9 April 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.