Current Travel Health News

More than 2,000 people were killed in the devastating earthquake that hit Yushu County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, on April 14.  Qinghai is located in the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau with an average elevation of over 3 000 meters above sea level, and the affected Yushi County is at an altitude of 3,600 to 4,300 meters.  Travellers visiting Qinghai should beware of the environmental health risks, including High Altitude Syndrome and Extreme Weather Conditions.  Travellers are also at risk of contracting infectious diseases, such as zoonotic diseases (e.g. Plague and Rabies), and food & water borne diseases (e.g. Traveller's Diarrhoea).  Therefore travellers should always practice good personal and food hygiene, use repellent against fleas, and stay away from wild and stray animals.  Road traffic and personal safety should also be observed.  

As of Apr 11, 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories/communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 (2009), including over 17 798 deaths.

(Source: Swine and Seasonal Flu Monitor, Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong 22 April 2010)

Cambodia reported a new human fatal case of Avian Influenza. The victim was a 27-year-old man from Prey Veng province. He died on 17 April 2010 due to respiratory complications. Of the 10 cases confirmed to date in Cambodia, 8 have been fatal.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 April 2010)

Vietnam reported two new human cases of Avian Influenza. The first victim was a 22-year-old man from Bac Kan province. He developed symptoms on 28 March 2010, and was treated in hospital in severe condition. The second victim was a 2-year-old girl from Bac Kan province. She developed symptoms on 2 April 2010 and was hospitalized for treatment. Both cases had exposure to sick and dead poultry. Of the 119 cases confirmed to date in Viet Nam, 59 have been fatal.

(Source: World Health Organization 21 April 2010)

In the Philippines, at least 43 cases of Malaria were reported in North Cotabato of Mindanao so far this year.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 April 2010)

As of 14 Apr 2010, 14 confirmed cases of Dengue Fever were reported, including 11 imported cases and 3 indigenous cases.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 April 2010)

In Venezuela, 22 152 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in the country so far this year, which was 85 per cent higher than the same period last year in 2009, where only 11 936 cases occurred.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 April 2010)

In Colombia, at least 45 Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever deaths have been registered so far in 2010. Up to 8 Apr 2010, there have been a total of 49 122 dengue cases, of which 8 per cent correspond to serious dengue infections or Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 April 2010)

An outbreak of Mumps affecting at least 100 people was reported in Guam.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 April 2010)

In Tajikistan, an outbreak of Poliomyelitis with 7 confirmed cases was reported in south-western part of the country bordering Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The surveillance system in Tajikistan had identified 120 suspected cases with 10 deaths. Majority of the cases were children less than 5 years of age. Uzbekistan also reported 3 suspected cases.

(Source: World Health Organization 23 April 2010)

In Zimbabwe, the outbreak of Measles had now spread to 48 districts in the country. According to the joint report by WHO and Zimbabwe's Health Ministry released on 14 Apr 2010, so far more than 200 people have died, with most of the cases among members of religious groups that shunned conventional medical treatment.

(Source: ProMED-mail 19 April 2010)

As of 28 March 2010, 22 364 cases of Measles with 185 deaths were reported in Central and West Africa.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 April 2010)