Current Travel Health News

The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo notified the World Health Organization of an outbreak of Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in the Province Orientale. A total of 10 suspected cases and 6 deaths had been reported. Out of which, two were confirmed cases.

(Source: World Health Organization 17 August 2012)

As of 16 August 2012, 198 human cases of variant Influenza A (H3N2) infection were reported in the United States of America. Most of the cases, presenting with signs and symptoms of influenza, were mild and self-limited.

(Source: ProMED-mail 17 August 2012)

The United States of America is experiencing its biggest spike in West Nile Virus infection since 2004. A total of 693 human cases including 26 deaths were reported in the country so far this year.  Most of the cases were reported from Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota and California.

(Source: ProMED-mail 14 and 16 August 2012)

In Kibaale district of Uganda, a total of 24 probable and confirmed cases of Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever including 16 deaths had been reported so far.

(Source: World Health Organization 14 August 2012)

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia announced one new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The patient was 37-year-old male from Yogyakarta Province. He developed symptoms on 24 July 2012 and died on 30 July 2012. Of the 191 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 159 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 10 August 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.