Current Travel Health News

In the Mainland, an outbreak of Avian Influenza which killed 519 birds was reported in a farm in Xinjiang Province. The remaining 13 218 birds were culled.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 10 February 2009)

As of 12 February, more than 2 900 cases of Dengue Fever have been reported in Jakarta, Indonesia, of whom 5 died.

(Source: Xinhuanet 12 February 2009)

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has confirmed a new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The case is a 23-year-old female from Dam Ha District, Quang Ninh Province. She developed symptoms on 28 January and was hospitalized on 31 January. She is now in a serious condition. She had contact with sick and dead poultry prior to her illness. Of the 108 cases confirmed to date in Vietnam, 52 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organisation 11 February 2009)

In India, the outbreak of Meningococcal Meningitis continued to affect the northeastern part of the country. Up to now, over 2 000 cases with at least 165 deaths were reported. The areas affected included Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and the neighbouring Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

(Source: ProMED-mail 11 February 2009)

In Malawi, more than 2 000 cases of Cholera including 67 deaths have been reported in the country since the start of the rainy season.

In South Africa, an outbreak of Cholera affecting 4 165 people including 26 deaths was reported in Mpumalanga province.

In Mozambique, a total a 4 132 cases of Cholera including 52 deaths have been reported in the country since the outbreak began in October 2008.

(Source: ProMED-mail 12 February 2009)

Egypt has announced a new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case is a one-and-a-half-year-old male from the Maghagha District of Menia Governorate. He was hospitalized and remained in a stable condition. Investigations indicated a recent history of contact with dead poultry. Of the 55 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 23 have been fatal.

(Source: ProMED-mail 9 February 2009)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of United States has recently determined that a US citizen who became ill in January 2008 contracted Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever. During her trip to Uganda, the victim visited a cave in the Maramagambo Forest. This cave contains large numbers of bats, which may harbour Marburg virus causing Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever.

 

The centers recommended travellers to take the following preventive measures:

·              Avoid contact with bats and other wild animals. Travellers should not enter caves or mines where bats may live;

·              Go to a doctor right away if you have a fever and you had contact with animals or sick people, or visited bat-infested caves in Africa during the past three weeks;

·              If you are bitten or scratched by an animal or if body fluid from the animal gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound, take these steps:

·         Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water

·         Go to a doctor or hospital right away;

·              Consider buying medical evacuation insurance if you are visiting a country where may not be good access to medical care.

(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA 30 January 2009)

In Brazil, one more death due to Yellow Fever was reported in Rio Grande do Sul, making a total of 4 deaths reported so far this year. The last outbreak of fatal human infection of the disease in the region was reported in 1966.

(Source: ProMED-mail 11 February 2009)