Current Travel Health News

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) verified with the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) on May 5 a human case of avian influenza A (H7N9) in Fujian. This case involves a 69-year-old man who is receiving treatment in hospital. The nine close contacts of him are asymptomatic so far. As of May 5, a total of 128 cases have been laboratory confirmed with avian influenza A (H7N9) in the Mainland, which included Zhejiang (46 cases), Shanghai (33 cases), Jiangsu (27 cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Jiangxi (five cases), Fujian (four cases), Shandong (two cases), Beijing (one case) and Hunan (two cases).

One chicken sample from Guangdong Dongguan market was tested positive for the H7N9 avian influenza in a laboratory confirmation test.

The Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reported three additional laboratory confirmed cases of infection with the novel coronavirus (nCoV). The epidemiological investigation of the new cases by the public health authorities is on-going.

The Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has informed World Health Organization (WHO) of seven new laboratory confirmed cases of infection with the novel coronavirus (nCoV), including five deaths. To date, WHO has been informed of a global total of 24 confirmed cases of human infection with novel coronavirus, including 16 deaths.

There were 16 positive cases of cholera in the municipality of Palmira, Cienfuegos Province, Cuba.

The Centre for Health Protection verified with the National Health & Family Planning Commission on May 1 a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan. The case involves a 69-year-old man who is receiving treatment in hospital. His condition is critical. As of May 1, a total of 127 cases have been laboratory confirmed with avian influenza A(H7N9) on the Mainland, which included Zhejiang (46 cases), Shanghai (33 cases), Jiangsu (27 cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Jiangxi (five cases), Fujian (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Beijing (one case) and Hunan (two cases).

Since the end of February more than 20 people were diagnosed with measles and new cases are being identified in Zelenograd, Russia.

The Department of Health of Fujian Province of Mainland notified a confirmed human case of avian influenza A (H7N9) involving a 58-year-old man.

The Centre for Health Protection verified with the National Health & Family Planning Commission on 29 April a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Shandong.

The case involves a four-year-old boy who is receiving treatment in hospital. He is stable. His father is the 36-year-old man who was the first confirmed case in Shandong.

As of 29 April, a total of 125 cases have been laboratory confirmed with avian influenza A(H7N9) in the Mainland, which included Zhejiang (46 cases), Shanghai (33 cases), Jiangsu (27 cases), Anhui (four cases), Henan (four cases), Jiangxi (five cases), Fujian (two cases), Shandong (two cases), Beijing (one case) and Hunan (one case).

Since November 2012, several European countries, including Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom have reported an increase in cases of hepatitis A virus infections in travellers returning from Egypt. As of 24 April, 80 cases have been reported in travellers who visited different areas of Egypt. Almost no cases were vaccinated prior to travel.

The World Organisation for Animal Health received notification from Mainland China that low pathogenic Avian Influenza virus subtype H7N9 was detected in 3 samples of bird in Zhejiang.

The World Health Organization (WHO) received 6 new laboratory-confirmed human cases with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus infection from Bangladesh (1), Cambodia (1), Egypt (2) and Vietnam (2). In Bangladesh, the case involved a 2-year-old boy from Chittagong while in Cambodia, a 5-year-old boy from Kampot was involved. The two cases in Vietnam were reported from Dong Thap and Long An respectively and one of them died of the infection. Moreover, the two cases in Egypt were reported from Menofia and Elmanzala respectively. The affected man from Elmanzala succumbed on 8/4/2013. All except the case in Cambodia had exposure history to poultry before the onset of disease.