Widespread diseases worldwide cause alarm among tourists

Various types of diseases are plaguing the people of different countries which have resulted in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Monday warning travellers heading overseas for their

winter vacation to be on the alert after outbreaks of several diseases.

Reports of influenza in China, Hong Kong and North America; norovirus in South Korea and
Japan; and dengue fever and measles in Southeast Asia have raised health concerns for travellers.

Since the start of autumn last year, 68 people have been infected with the H7N9 strain of avian influenza in China and Hong Kong, which resulted in eight deaths — mainly in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces — centers Deputy Director-General Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) said.

Meanwhile, seasonal flu is prevalent in the US and Canada, Chou said, urging travelers in these regions to wash their hands frequently and maintain good personal hygiene to prevent infection.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore has seen 2.7 times as many cases of dengue fever this year than it did up until the same time last year, which is 4.9 times the five-year average, he said.

India has also been attacked by dengue fever quite frequently. There has also been a significant increase in measles cases in the Philippines, where 760 cases, mainly in Manila, have been reported since the start of this year, compared with just 10 cases in the same period last year, he added.

As for Japan and South Korea, travellers should ensure they are eating at restaurants with
good sanitation, avoid raw food and non-boiled water, and wash their hands regularly to avoid norovirus infection, he added.

Separately, an 86-year-old Chinese tourist infected with H7N9 bird flu, the nation’s second imported case of avian influenza, was released from quarantine last week, the centers said.

This year’s damage

‧ The H7N9 strain of avian influenza has infected 68 and killed eight in China and Hong Kong since last fall.

‧ Dengue fever cases in Singapore are 2.7 times that of January last year — and 4.9 times the five-year average.
‧ There have been 760 cases of measles in the Philippines this year, compared with 10 last year.