032619 – World Status Report

When traveling on behalf of UT Dallas, set up your institutional safety net and prepare for an emergency as a standard step of all your travels.  Find more information in the Traveler Best Practices webpage.

The risk information in this report is retrieved from U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other professional sources as listed in the post. It provides general guidance for UT Dallas travelers.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Avoid Nonessential Travel

Crime and Social Unrest

• Afghanistan – GOV.UK. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Afghanistan. Multiple threats are issued daily. Terrorists and insurgents conduct frequent and widespread lethal attacks against Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF), domestic and international political and civilian targets including in the Green Zone, and those working in the humanitarian and reconstruction fields. There is a threat from high-profile, large-scale attacks in Kabul. The insurgency has a strong anti-Western focus; this could make any UK interest or person a target. Attacks include bombs (roadside and other), suicide bombs (either on foot or by vehicle), indirect fire (rockets and mortars), direct fire (shootings and rocket propelled grenades), kidnappings and violent crime. Daesh is also fiercely hostile to the UK and other western countries. You should be particularly vigilant on public or religious holidays, and in and around landmark locations and places where large public crowds can gather.
• Ukraine – U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Ukraine due to crime, civil unrest and elections. Some areas have increased risk. Do not travel to: Crimea due to arbitrary detentions and other abuses by Russian occupation authorities; The eastern parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, especially the non-government-controlled areas, due to armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Natural Disasters and Climate

• Indonesia – GDACS. On 03/16/2019, a flood started in Indonesia, lasting until 03/23/2019 (last update). The flood caused 104 killed and 9641 displaced.  Avoid non-essential travel to affected areas.
• Malawi – GC.CA,  GOV.UK Parts of southern Malawi have been experiencing severe flooding since the beginning of March 2019. The recent passage of tropical cyclone Idai aggravated the situation further. The Government of Malawi declared a State of Disaster on March 8 in areas affected by the floods. The Malawi Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has advised residents around Zomba City of the risk of serious flooding. If you are in the area you should remain vigilant, follow the advice of local authorities, and be prepared to leave the area at short notice.  Be cautious and avoid flooded areas.
• Mozambique – GC.CA,  GOV.AU, GDACS.  Tropical cyclone Idai made landfall near Beira on 15 March 2019. The cyclone brought torrential rainfall and violent winds.  Large parts of Mozambique are experiencing severe flooding due to tropical cyclone Idai. The Government of Mozambique declared a national state of emergency on March 20, 2019. Western Mozambique could experience more flooding due to the weakening or overflowing of dams located in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. If you are currently in this area follow the instructions of local authorities, avoid downstream areas and move to higher grounds and monitor local news to stay informed on the current situation. The provinces most affected by flooding in Mozambique are Sofala and Zambezia as well as the districts of Cuamba and Madimba in the province of Niassa. The provinces of Manica, Inhambane and Tete are also impacted. Some areas where critical infrastructure has been severely impacted are inaccessible. There could be disruptions to the essential services like transportation, power distribution, water and food supply, telecommunications networks, emergency services and medical care. Be cautious and avoid the flooded areas.  In the last update by GDACS the flood had caused 202 killed and 17100 displaced.
• Zimbabwe – GC.CA,  GDACS. Eastern Zimbabwe is experiencing severe flooding due to tropical cyclone Idai. Dams located in this area may have weakened or be over capacity. Exercise caution when travelling downstream or across rivers as water can rise quickly. The President of Zimbabwe declared a state of disaster in the affected areas on March 16, 2019. If you are currently in the affected area follow the instructions of local authorities, avoid downstream areas and keep to higher grounds, monitor local news to stay informed on the current situation and dial 111 or 112 in case of emergency. There could be disruptions to the essential services like transportation, power distribution, water and food supply, telecommunications networks, emergency services, and medical care.  In the last update by GDACS the flood had caused 102 killed and 3692 displaced.
• Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe – CDC. Parts of Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe have been severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai. US residents should avoid nonessential travel to Beira City and the surrounding area in Mozambique. Travelers to other affected parts of Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe should take steps to prevent illness and injury.

Take Enhanced Precautions

Conflict and Terrorism

• Spain – U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Spain. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.  Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Crime and Social Unrest

• Barbados – GOV.UK. Most visits are trouble-free, but there have been incidents of violent crime including armed robbery, sexual assaults and gang-related shootings. 2019 has seen an increase in the murder rate, primarily gang related and involving guns. Some incidents have taken place in populated and public areas. You should remain vigilant at all times and in all locations.
• Papua New Guinea – U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Papua New Guinea due to crime, civil unrest, a polio outbreak, the aftermath of an earthquake, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Reconsider travel to: Areas near the Panguna mine in Bougainville due to civil unrest; The Highlands region due to the long-term effects of an earthquake in February 2018, and civil unrest. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo – U.S. Department of State. Reconsider travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk.  Do Not Travel To: North Kivu and Ituri provinces due to Ebola; Eastern DRC and the three Kasai provinces due to armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Demonstrations

• Bangladesh – GOV.UK. There are reports about the need for heightened vigilance in Dhaka. We are not aware of any specific threat. Please remain vigilant and avoid large gatherings.
• Comoros – U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in The Union of the Comoros due to the upcoming presidential election. Comoros will hold elections on March 24, 2019, and April 21, 2019, if a run-off election is warranted. Travel within Comoros may be disrupted during these times by roadblocks and political demonstrations.  From March 21-March 26, U.S. government personnel will be permitted to travel to the islands of Anjouan and Moheli for pre-approved official purposes only. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Union of the Comoros.
• India – GC.CA,  GOV.UK. General elections are due to take place from April 11 to May 19, 2019. Political rallies and meetings will occur across the country during this time. Demonstrations could occur before, during and after the elections. Exercise caution and avoid large gatherings.
• Indonesia – GOV.AU. There may be a heightened risk of protests and rallies in the lead up to the Indonesian Presidential election in April 2019. Protests have been held recently near the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and Consulates. Be aware of your surroundings. Monitor media for the latest information about safety or security risks. Exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia overall, including Bali. Higher levels apply in Central Sulawesi and Papua province.
• Serbia – GOV.UK. Weekly protests are currently taking place in Belgrade and some other towns and cities; these usually remain peaceful, but can cause significant disruption, including to public transport; you should keep up to date with local developments and avoid any large crowds or demonstrations.
• Solomon Islands – GOV.AU. National elections will be held on 3 April 2019. Maintain a high degree of awareness throughout the election period and during the selection of the Prime Minister which is likely to happen two to four weeks after the election. Avoid protests, political rallies and concerts, as they may turn violent (see Safety and security).
• Ukraine – GOV.UK. Presidential elections will take place on Sunday 31 March 2019, with a possible second round on Sunday 21 April 2019; there is an increased likelihood of large public rallies and demonstrations; you should avoid demonstrations and take extra care at public gatherings

Health

• Brazil, Cambodia, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Réunion, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam – ECDC. Dengue. According to regional authorities and as of 10 March 2019, Réunion has detected 2 307 cases of dengue since the beginning of 2019. Brazil and Réunion have observed a very sharp increase during the past month. In Asia, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are reporting a larger number of cases compared with 2018.
• Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo and Thailand – ECDC. Chikungunya. Several countries in the Americas report ongoing transmission in 2019. Cases have also been reported in Asia and Africa during this period. Since the previous CDTR update on 22 February 2019, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo and Thailand have reported the majority of the new cases. No outbreaks have been identified in Europe and the Australia and Pacific region since the previous report.
• Europe – ECDC. Influenza. Between 11-17 March 2019, influenza activity was widespread in one-third of the countries of the European Region. Specimens collected from individuals presenting with influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infection to sentinel primary health care sites yielded an influenza virus positivity rate of 34%, a decrease compared with the previous week (43%).
• France (Mayotte) – ECDC. Rift Valley fever. According to a Santé publique France report as of 15 March 2019, 101 human cases have been reported in Mayotte. This is an increase of 13 human cases since the previous CDTR update on 16 March 2019. Furthermore, samples taken by veterinarians from sick animals or abortions during the same time period have identified eight additional epizootic foci of Rift Valley fever in Mayotte. Among 61 investigated human cases, 44 reported contact with animals and 28 cases reported consumption of raw or curdled milk. Eleven cases had no reported risk factors. The commune of residence was available for 82 of the 101 confirmed cases. The vast majority of the cases were detected in the Centre-West (56%) and North (26%) of Mayott.
• Saudi Arabia – ECDC. MERS-CoV. As of 21 March 2019, Saudi Arabia has reported an increase of 4 cases and 2 deaths since the previous CDTR published on 15 March 2019. So far, 10 of 13 regions in Saudi Arabia have reported 103 cases in 2019 and of these, three regions reported cases in the last 7 days.

Law and Culture

• Italy – GC.CA. The historic centres of many Italian cities have restricted traffic zones marked as ZTL, which stands for “Zona Traffico Limitato”. A special permit is necessary to have vehicle access to these zones. If you enter these zones without a permit, you could be fined. Travellers have received traffic tickets by mail several months after their return to their home country. Pay close attention to street signage. Obtain instructions from your hotel on how to access your hotel by vehicle if it is located in a ZTL.
• Tanzania – GOV.UK. In 2019, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to start on 5 May and finish on 4 June. See Travelling during Ramadan.
• Togo – GOV.UK. If you’re staying longer than 6 months, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is also required. This must be renewed annually. Conversion to a local Togolese licence is not required, although it is possible. You would be required to take a driving test in Togo.

Natural Disasters and Climate

• Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 4 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• Australia – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 2 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• Dominican Republic, Haiti – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 3 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• Mauritus – GOV.UK. The Mauritian authorities have advised (on March 25) that a cyclone warning class IV is now in force for the island of Rodrigues; you should continue to monitor and follow the advice of the Mauritius Meteorological Services.
• Australia – GOV.UK. Tropical Cyclone Trevor is affecting the Cape York Peninsula region of Queensland, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Northern Territories bringing damaging winds, torrential rainfall and flooding; Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica is expected to impact the northern coast of Western Australia also bringing flash flooding and damaging winds.

Other

• Venezuela – GC.CA. A country-wide power outage hit the country on March 7, 2019. While power has been restored in many parts of the country, some areas are still experiencing disruptions. In Caracas, most services have been restored

Ebola News

• Democratic Republic of the Congo – ECDC. Ebola. Since the previous CDTR, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 59 additional cases, including 27 additional deaths, among confirmed cases. Among the new reported cases in the past week, three are healthcare workers.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo – WHO. The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces has recently shown an increase in the number of cases reported by week, after many weeks of overall decline (Figure 1). This rise is not unexpected and, in part, likely a result of the increased security challenges, including the recent direct attacks on treatment centers, and pockets of community mistrust, which slowed some response activities in affected areas for a few days. Katwa, Butembo, Masereka and Mandima account for over 80% of all cases in the last 21 days. A total of 97 confirmed cases were reported during the last 21 days from 38 of the 130 health areas affected to date.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.