Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (8 January 2013 – 14 January 2013)
Philippines: Chikungunya Fever
Over 250 individuals in Villareal town in Samar are believed to have been afflicted with Chikungunya Fever. The Department of Health in the Philippines has deployed teams to investigate the spread of the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 13 January 2013)
20 cases of Anthrax have been confirmed in the Masvosva area in Zimbabwe. A total of 16 more people in Rusape are at the risk of contracting anthrax after consuming the same infected meat.
(Source: ProMED-mail 12 January 2013)
During December 30-January 5, influenza activity increased in the United States of America. Forty-seven states reported widespread geographic influenza activity.
(Source: USA CDC Flu View 11 January 2013)
According to a report jointly released by the Sudanese federal Ministry of Health and by the World Health Organization, 171 people have died of Yellow Fever in Darfur, Sudan as of 9 January 2013 and 849 suspected cases have been reported since 2 September 2012. The disease has affected 35 out of the 64 localities of Darfur.
(Source: ProMED-mail 11 January 2013)
Canada: Escherichia coli O157 Infection [Update]
An outbreak of a potentially deadly strain of Escherichia coli O157 that has made 15 people sick in 3 provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario) in Canada. Laboratory tests indicate all 15 cases are linked.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10 January 2013)
People should be aware of the risk of bushfires in Australia. In early January, Tasmania suffered a series of bushfires, some in tourist areas.
(Source: Safe Travel New Zealand 8 January 2013)
Mexico: Highly pathogenic avian influenza
On 3 Jan 2013, a commercial layer farm in the State of Aguascalientes in Mexico informed an increase in mortality and a decrease of egg production. This was the second outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza serotype H7N3 occurred after the last one in September 2012.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 January 2013)
A low pathogenic avian influenza serotype H5N2 occurred in Taiwan Penghu Makung on 20 December, 2012. In 69 chickens, 25 died of infection, 31 were destroyed and 13 were slaughtered.
(Source: OIE 4 January 2013)
During December 23-29, influenza activity increased in the United States of America. Forty-one states reported widespread geographic influenza activity.
(Source: USA CDC Flu View 4 January 2013)
Increases in Norovirus activities had been noted in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, France and New Zealand in late 2012. The increases might be related to a variant strain of the virus.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 January 2013)