Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (28 January 2008)
Indonesia: Avian Influenza, human [update]
The World Health Organization confirmed 2 human cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection in Indonesia. The first one was a 8-year-old boy from Tangerang District, Banten Province, who was reported on 18 January 2008 by meida. The second one was a 30-year-old male from the same district. Both of them died of the disease. Initial investigations revealed that the first victim lived in close proximity to a chicken slaughterhouse.
(Source: World Health Organization 21, 23 and 24 January 2008, ProMED-mail 21 January 2008)
Thailand: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Thailand, the re-emergence of Avian Influenza was confirmed in Phichit one day after Nakhon Sawan Province was declared a bird flu outbreak zone.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 January 2008)
Vietnam: Avian Influenza, human
In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health announced a confirmed human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection affecting a 34-year-old male from Tuyen Quang Province. He died of the disease on 18 January.
(Source: World Health Organization 24 January 2008)
India: Avian Influenza, poultry
West Bengal of India has been adversely affected by Avian Influenza with 11 out of its 19 districts being struck. The 11 districts affected by bird flu are Birbhum, South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura, Malda, Coochbehar, Hooghly, Purulia, and Howrah.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26 January 2008)
India: European traveller contracted Malaria
A 55-year-old Swedish woman was diagnosed falciparum Malaria after returning home from her 2-week stay in Goa and Kerala of India. In the first half of 2007, a 3-fold increase in the number of Malaria was reported in Goa as compared with that during the same period in 2006.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 January 2008)
Turkey: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Turkey, an outbreak of Avian Influenza which killed 13 birds was reported on a village in Zonguldak Province.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 22 January 2008)
New Mexico of the USA reported the first human case of Plague in 2008. The case was a 50-year-old man from Eddy County, who mostly likely contracted the disease while hunting and skinning rabbits.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27January 2008)
Brazil: Yellow Fever [update 3]
The Health Authority of Brazil confirmed one more death from Yellow Fever in Goias, bringing the total number of deaths to 9. The victim has not been vaccinated against Yellow Fever.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24 January 2008)
In Angola, the Health Department has recorded 174 cases of Cholera in Quilunda lagoon, Cacuaco District, Luanda Province since 1 January 2008. A total of 608 cases of Cholera including 33 deaths have been recorded in Evale, Ondjiva, Nehone, and Kalonga of Cunene Province since 23 December 2007.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 January 2008)
Since there were violent unrests following the disputed presidential election result in Kenya, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom has updated the advice against all but essential travel to parts of Kenya, including Western and Nyanza Provinces and Mombasa, Nakuru and Naivasha towns, parts of Rift Valley Province and parts of Nairobi.
(Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom 27 January 2008)
In north-western Mozambique, 4 confirmed cases of Cholera were recorded in Mutarara, Tete Province.
(Source: ProMED-mail 22 January 2008)
Sudan: Rift Valley Fever [update 4]
As of 15 January, 698 cases of Rift Valley Fever including 222 deaths have been reported in White Nile, Sennar, Gazeera, River Nile, Kassala and Khartoum States of Sudan. However, the number of reported cases decreased continuously in recent weeks.
(Source: World Health Organization 22 January 2008)