Health Alerts

In the city of Wuhan (Hubei province), 59 people are ill, seven of them critically, suffering from what is suspected to be an infection of animal origin – SARS, MERS and avian influenza have been ruled out. Chinese authorities notified the WHO on Dec 31 and the agency stated that invasive lesions in both lungs are evident in those infected (some of whom worked at a seafood/wild animal meat market – now closed for disinfection). Read the WHO Jan 5 Disease Outbreak News post. Up to 30 people with respiratory symptoms following travel to Wuhan have been under surveillance in Hong Kong since Dec 31, however, test results released by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) to date do not show a ‘novel infectious agent’ as the cause. The CHP has issued travel advice. In view of the cluster of cases in China, the US CDC has issued a level 1 Travel Notice for travellers to the country. Lunar New Year in 2020 takes place over 16 days from Jan 25. Some countries in the region are performing thermal screening on people arriving from China. Read more.