Current Travel Health News

As of 24 October 2012, a total of 52 cases including 35 confirmed and 17 probable cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) . Of these, 25 people died of the infection.

(Source: ProMED-mail 26 October 2012)

An outbreak of dengue fever continued to affect Madeira, Portugal . As of 24 October 2012, a total of 52 confirmed cases and 404 probable cases have been reported. Forty patients were hospitalised.

(Source: NaTHNaC 25 October 2012)

In Tolyatti, Russia , there was a recent increase in cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) . Between 5 and 11 October 2012, 7 cases were reported.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 October 2012)

An outbreak of Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever was detected in Kabale district in South-western Uganda . A total of 9 cases including 5 deaths were reported and blood samples from 3 cases were tested positive.

[Editor's Note: Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons as well as by handling ill or dead infected wild animals such as monkeys and fruit bats. Symptoms include severe headache, severe malaise and severe haemorrhagic manifestations.]

( Source: World Health Organization 21 October 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 .