Current Travel Health News

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from the Ministry of Health (MoH) on 22 January concerning a confirmed human case of influenza A (H5N1) Avian Influenza in Guizhou. The patient was a 39-year-old man living in Guizhou, Mainland. He developed symptoms on 6 January and was admitted to a hospital on the same day. The man did not report obvious exposure history to poultry before the onset of symptoms.

The CHP is maintaining close liaison with the MoH to obtain more information on the case. For more information, please refer to Centre for Health Protection website.

(Source: Centre for Health Protection 22 January 2012)

The Ministry of Health of Cambodia announced one new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The patient was 2-year-old male from Banteay Meanchey Province. He developed symptoms on 3 January 2012 and was admitted for treatment on 9 January 2012. Of the 19 cases confirmed to date in Cambodia, 16 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 16 January 2012)

The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt notified WHO of two cases of human infection with H5N1 Avian Influenza virus. The first case was a 2-year-old female from Cairo governorate. She consulted a doctor because of influenza-like-illness on 30 October last year and was later confirmed as suffering from Avian Influenza. The second case was a 31-year-old male from Fayium governorate. He developed symptoms on 1 January 2012. He is still hospitalized under the critical care unit. Of the 159 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 55 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 19 January 2012)

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia announced one new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The patient was 5-year-old girl from Jakarta Province. She had breathing difficulties on 13 January 2012 and died on 16 January 2012. Of the 184 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 152 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 19 January 2012)

The Ministry of Health in Vietnam announced a confirmed human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The case was an 18-year-old man from Kien Giang Province. He developed symptoms on 10 January and was admitted to hospital on 14 January but died on 16 January. The victim was reportedly exposed to ducks. Of the 120 cases confirmed to date in Vietnam, 60 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 20 January 2012)

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, an outbreak of Cholera with more than 1 600 confirmed cases and at least 14 deaths was reported in South Kivu, capital of Bukavu Province in January this year. Last year, nearly 19 000 cases were also reported with more than 200 deaths from another Cholera outbreak.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 January 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)