Disease

Warning of Hepatitis in Mexico

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is cautioning travellers visiting Mexico in the wake of a recent hepatitis A outbreak.

According to the CDC, as of May 1, more than two dozen cases of hepatitis A have been reported by U.S. travelers who visited Tulum, Mexico, a popular tourist destination, between Feb. 15 and March 20 of this year. As a result, the CDC is recommending that travelers headed south of the border get vaccinated for hepatitis A.

The organization also advises travelers to eat and drink safe foods and beverages as well as to practice good hygiene and cleanliness.

Health Warning in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 14) called on the public to maintain vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection, as the latest surveillance data shows that Hong Kong is entering the peak season for both.

“The CHP recorded an increasing number of institutional outbreaks of HFMD in the recent two weeks. There were nine and 10 institutional HFMD outbreaks in the week ending May 9 and the first four days (May 10-13) of this week respectively as compared with between zero and four outbreaks per week in previous months.”

As for EV71 infection in 2015, the CHP recorded 18 cases as of May 15, among which one patient developed a severe complication. Fifteen of the cases were recorded in recent four weeks.

“The summer peak season for HFMD and EV71 is usually from May to July. The local activity is expected to increase in the next few weeks.