Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (6 October 2008)
South Korea : Avian Influenza, poultry
Routine tests showed that some ducks at a farm in Yesan, 134 km south of Seoul, South Korea, have been infected with Avian Influenza. All ducks at the farm were culled to avoid further spreading of the fatal disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 October 2008)
In Malaysia, 4 deaths due to Dengue Fever were reported in Perak in the first 9 months of this year. The area is badly hit by the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 September 2008)
In India, an outbreak of Chikungunya Fever was reported in West Bengal, blood tests of 8 persons were found positive of Chikungunya virus infection.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 October 2008)
India reported a total of 2 808 Dengue Fever cases with 38 deaths in the country so far this year. Out of which, Maharashtra reported 252 cases with 14 deaths, Haryana reported 738 cases with 9 deaths, Tamil Nadu reported 282 cases with 1 deaths and Delhi reported 478 cases with 2 deaths.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 September 2008)
As of 28 September 2008, 341 confirmed cases of Cholera were reported in Iraq, mostly in Babil, Baghdad and Kerbala. Other provinces in which Cholera cases have been reported include Anbar, Basra, Diala, Diwanyia, Misan and Najaf.
(Source: World Health Organization 29 September 2008)
As of 27 September 2008, 602 cases of Hepatitis A were reported in the Czech Republic, which was eight-fold higher than that in the same period last year. The capital Prague and the neighouring Central Bohemian region were seriously hit by the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 October 2008)
As of 2 October 2008, 1 016 cases of Hepatitis A were reported in Latvia. The capital city of Riga and the Riga region were seriously hit by the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 October 2008)
In Fiji, over 1 000 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year. Most of the cases were reported in the Central Division.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 September 2008)
In Mexico, 2 300 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year. Out of which, 265 cases were reported in Jalisco and 23 cases were reported in Sonora.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 September 2008)
In Guyana, about 300 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 September 2008)
Trinidad and Tobago: Dengue Fever
In Trinidad and Tobago, 78 cases of Dengue Fever with 4 deaths were reported in Mayaro and Rio Claro. In addition, 20 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in Tobago.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 September 2008)
One death due to Yellow Fever was reported in Ghana.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 October 2008)
Pakistan: Hong Kong Travellers contracted Hepatitis A
From 18 September to 6 October, Centre for Health Protection recorded 5 cases of Hepatitis A affecting 5 Hong Kong children of Pakistani origin. They went back to Pakistan for summer holiday and developed symptoms after returning to Hong Kong. At least 3 of them had travelled to Hazro, Punjab of Pakistan.
(Source: Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, HKSAR 9 October 2008)