Current Travel Health News

In the Mainland, the Ministry of Health recently announced 2 confirmed and 1 suspected human cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The first confirmed case was a 22-year-old man from Hunan Province. He developed symptoms on 16 January and died on 24 January. The second confirmed case was a 41-year-old man from Nanning, Guangxi. He developed symptoms on 12 February and died on 20 February. The suspected case was a 44-year-old woman from Guangdong. She developed symptoms on February 16 and died on 25 February. Of the 29 cases confirmed to date in the Mainland, 19 of them were fatal.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 February 2008, Ministry of Health, China 18 and 24 February 2008)

In the Mainland, Avian Influenza was confirmed among poultry in Lhasa, Tibet.  Local health workers have culled nearly 7700 fowl.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 February 2008)

In the Mainland, an outbreak of Measles killed 10 persons in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in January 2008. There were 4 365 cases of Measles in January 2008, a jump from 1 149 cases in December 2007 when Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region only had 2 fatal cases.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 February 2008)

In Indonesia, 2 347 cases of Dengue Fever including at least 37 deaths were reported in Central Java Province in January this year.

As of 8 February, 304 cases of Dengue Fever including 7 deaths were reported in Cebu of the Philippines.

As of 9 February, 2 824 cases of Dengue Fever including 4 deaths were reported in Thailand. Most of the cases were reported in the provinces in the central region.

In Sri Lanka, an outbreak of Dengue Fever affecting 34 people including 3 deaths was reported in Trincomalee.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 February 2008)

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Health announced 2 new human cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The first case was a 16-year-old male from Central Jakarta Province who developed symptoms on 3 February and died on 10 February. Prior to symptom onset, the case was exposed to poultry at his home. The second case was a 3-year-old boy from Jakarta Province who developed symptoms on 3 February and died on 15 February. Dead poultry was found in the neighborhood in the 2 weeks prior to the case's onset of symptoms. Of the 129 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 105 died of the disease.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 February 2008)

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health confirmed a new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The victim was a 27-year-old man from Ninh Binh Province. He developed symptoms on 3 February and died on 14 February. He had contact history with diseased and dead poultry.

(Source: World Health Organization 21 February 2008)

In Bolivia, more than 100 cases of Dengue Fever including one death have been reported in the country since the massive floods began in November last year.

In Brazil, 4 495 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in Rio de Janeiro so far this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 February 2008)

In Brazil, one more case of Yellow Fever was confirmed. The victim contracted the disease in Mato Grosso and died in December last year. At present, 31 confirmed cases including 16 deaths have been reported in the country.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2008)

A Canadian woman was diagnosed falciparum Malaria after returning home from her 2-week stay in Punta Cana of Dominican Republic.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 February 2008)

In Paraguay, 2 more cases of Yellow Fever were confirmed in San Lorenzo of Central Department, making a total of 12 confirmed cases so far this year. Out of which, 7 cases were reported in San Pedro Department. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States and Health Protection Agency of the United Kingdom have recently updated the yellow fever vaccination recommendation on 21 and 22 February respectively.  Both of them recommended yellow fever vaccination for all travellers visiting Paraguay

(Source: ProMED-mail 23 February 2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA 21 February 2008 and Health Protection Agency 22 February 2008)

In Katanga Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 4 000 cases of Cholera including 110 deaths have been reported so far since the outbreak began in December last year. The areas affected included Lubumbashi, Haut Lomami, Likasi, Tanganyika and Haut Katanga.

In Kenya, an outbreak of Cholera affecting more than 200 people including 10 deaths was reported in Northeastern Province.

In Mozambique, 8 out of 11 provinces were affected by Cholera. The affected areas included Maputo, Maputo city, Manica, Sofala, Tete, Cabo Delgado, Gaza and Zambezia.

In Uganda, an outbreak of Cholera affecting 23 people with 1 death was reported in Arua District.

 

In Zimbabwe, an outbreak of Cholera which killed 7 people was reported in Mashonaland East Province. Earlier this month, another outbreak which killed 4 people was reported in Mashonaland Central Province.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 and 23 February 2008)

As of 10 February, 2 312 cases of Meningococcal Meningitis including 324 deaths were recorded in the African meningitis belt. These figures are 29% lower than those reported in the same period last year. Burkina Faso was seriously hit by the disease with 1 422 cases including 204 deaths reported. Outbreaks were also reported in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Uganda. Other countries reporting meningitis activity included Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo.

(Source: World Health Organization 22 February 2008)

In Yemen, an outbreak of Cholera which killed 40 people was reported in Hajjah.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 February 2008)