Current Travel Health News

On 1 June 2012, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health of Hong Kong reported a human case of Influenza A H5N1 infection affecting a 2-year-old boy. The patient had onset of symptoms on 23 May in Guangdong province and he came to Hong Kong on 26 May to seek medical treatment. CHP immediately traced his close contacts and placed them under quarantine and three weeks of strengthened surveillance had passed and no secondary spread or further case of avian influenza was detected during the period. This human case of influenza A (H5) was classified as an imported sporadic infection and is now in serious condition in the hospital.

In view of the situation, the Government of Hong Kong today (June 22) lowered the influenza response level under the Framework of Government's Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic from "Serious" to "Alert".

(Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong 22 June 2012)

The latest reports on the outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in Edinburgh of Scotland, the United Kingdom show that there had been no further cases of the disease since 12 June 2012. As of 17 June, there were 42 confirmed and 47 suspected cases including 2 deaths reported. Investigation of the source of infection is ongoing.

(Source: NHS Lothian 17 June 2012)

In Vietnam, 43 200 people had contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, with 22 fatalities, in the first 5 months of 2012. The number of people suffering from the illnesses was higher than in previous years.

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 June 2012)

In Bihar, India, 348 children were affected and 129 had died in the outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (including Japanese Encephalitis) since May 2012.

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 June 2012)

Since March 2012, 29 people had confirmed contracted Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever and 7 of them had died from it in Iran.

(Source: Promed Mail 2 June2012)

A man in his 50s from Oregon, USA was suspected to have been contracted Plague after bitten by a sick stray cat. He was in critical condition.

(Source: ProMED-mail 12 June 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.