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As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 28 destinations: Yemen, Georgia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Colombia, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Pakistan, Eritrea, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Philippines, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Nepal, Somalia, Chad, Kenya, Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Iraq.
In the Galápagos Islands, La Cumbre Volcano erupted on Fernandina, an uninhabited island, April 15-16. Gas and steam plumes as well as lava flows were sighted, and there were reports of dead fish and sea lions.
The most active volcano in the archipelago, La Cumbre is known to have erupted 12 times since 1813, the last time in 2005.
Since early 2009, several areas in Australia have reported an increase in cases of pertussis. As of April 13, more than 7,000 cases had been reported across the country. Pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) is a vaccine-preventable, highly contagious respiratory illness that is caused by bacteria.
At press time, the World Health Organization had raised the alert level of the fast-spreading H1N1 “swine flu” from phase 4 to 5 out of a possible 6 alert levels. Phase 5 indicates that human-to-human transmission of the virus is confirmed in at least two countries. WHO advised that all countries put their preparations for a pandemic into effect.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the leader of Fiji since a 2006 military coup, has imposed a state of emergency in that country.
The State Department’s Travel Warning on Zimbabwe was canceled on April 8. Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters it was because of “a return of basic medical, food and fuel services to Zimbabwe….”
Targeted sanctions that include financial and visa restrictions as well as a ban of transfers of military aid will remain in place.
The Tibet Autonomous Region, which was closed to tourists on Feb. 18, 2009, was reopened on April 5. Chinese authorities had declared a state of unofficial martial law, anticipating the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan rebellion which led to the Dalai Lama’s fleeing the country. Protests the previous year had spun out of control and resulted in at least 19 deaths and many injuries.
The Department of State warns of the risks of traveling to the Central African Republic (CAR) and recommends against all but essential travel outside the capital, Bangui. Avoid travel to northwestern and northern CAR, particularly the areas bordering Chad, due to banditry and, despite peace accords signed in December 2008, clashes between government and rebel forces.
The embassy recommends that Americans traveling outside the capital not travel with an armed escort, as such may cause problems with local authorities or draw fire from rebel troops.
American citizens are urged not to travel to the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia and to be aware that the potential exists for gunfire, increased risk of crime and ongoing potential for violence in these and adjacent areas. Travel in some parts of western Georgia remains unpredictable.
Travel by boat through the Red Sea or near the Socotra Islands in the Gulf of Aden presents the risk of pirate attacks.
Since the beginning of 2009, 40 vessels reportedly have been attacked and 23 vessels seized in the area. In some cases, crew members were held for ransom. Following the April 2009 hijacking of a US cargo vessel and the subsequent rescue of the vessel’s captain, resulting in the deaths of three pirates, Somali pirates threatened to retaliate against American citizens transiting the region. The threat of piracy extends into the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa.