Current Travel Health News

In the Mainland, as of 26 March 2009, there were a total of 41 846 reported cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.  Among them, 94 developed severe complications and 18 died of the disease.  Majority of the cases were children below 5 years old.  Henan Province reported 4 761 cases and Shandong Province reported 3 280 cases.  The authorities expected an increasing trend which would probably peak from May to July this year.  In 2008, there were a total of 489 000 reported cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.  Among them, 1 165 had severe complications and 126 died of the disease.

(Source: Ministry of Health, China 27 March 2009)

A 58-year-old man from the Northern Territory of Australia died of Murray Valley Encephalitis.  It is believed that he contracted the disease in Darwin's rural area where he worked and lived.

(Source: ProMED-mail 25 March 2009)

[Editor note: Murray Valley Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Murray Valley Encephalitis virus.  It mainly occurs in northern part of Australia and Papua New Guinea.  Water birds like herons are the reservoirs of the virus.  Persons bitten by infected mosquitoes may develop the disease.  The incubation period is usually 1 to 2 weeks.  It usually causes a mild disease with symptoms like fever, headache, nausea and vomiting; few people may develop meningitis or encephalitis.  There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine available.  Preventive measure is mosquito prevention.]

In Indonesia, two suspected human cases of Avian Influenza infection were reported in West Java.  The victims were a 30-year-old woman and her 35-year-old sister currently being treated in the hospital.  Around 50 chickens died in the village where the patients lived.

(Source: ProMED-mail 28 March 2009)

In Indonesia, an outbreak of Rabies reported in Bali killed 8 persons.

(Source: ProMED-mail 26 March 2009)

In Niger, from 1 January to 15 March 2009, 4 513 suspected cases of Meningococcal Disease including 169 deaths were reported.

(Source: World Health Organization 25 March 2009)

In Nigeria, from 1 January to 15 March 2009, 17 462 suspected cases of Meningococcal Disease including 960 deaths were reported,. 

(Source: World Health Organization 25 March 2009)

From February to mid-March, 7 suspected human cases of Yellow Fever infection were reported in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 5 of them have been confirmed.

(Source: ProMED-mail 23 March 2009)