Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (14 May 2013 - 20 May 2013 )
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Novel Coronavirus Infection [Update]
The Department of Health is monitoring one more coronavirus case reported to the World Health Organisation by Saudi Arabia. It involves an 81-year-old woman who fell ill on 28 April. She was identified as part of the ongoing investigation into an outbreak that began in a healthcare facility since the beginning of April. She was in the same healthcare facility previously identified as the focus of this outbreak, from 8 to 28 April. This brings the latest global number of confirmed cases to 41, including 20 deaths.
(Source: The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health 19 May 2013)
The number of people infected with measles in Georgia reached 2668 people, 835 of whom were hospitalized due to complications, according to the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 May 2013)
In Argentina, 51 people have been diagnosed with trichinellosis and they have consumed salami made from raw meat from home slaughtered animals.
[Editor's note: Trichinellosis, also called Trichinosis, is caused by eating raw or undercooked meat of animals infected with the larvae of a species of worm called Trichinella. The disease in humans is severe and frequently has a lethal outcome. The symptoms of the disease include fever, eye swelling, muscle pain and often skin rash, headaches, and diarrhoea. In severe case, patients may experience difficulty coordinating movements, and have heart and breathing problems.]
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 May 2013)
In Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, cutaneous leishmaniasis is on the increase.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 May 2013)
A child developed paralysis due to the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) infection and investigation team is in Dadaab, Kenya. This is the first WPV case confirmed in Kenya since July 2011.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 May 2013)
In Kyzylorda Region of Kazakhstan, a 4-year-old girl has been hospitalized with a diagnosis of rabies virus infection.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 May 2013)
In Bangladesh, 14 people have been infected with Anthrax in Tangail Sadar upazila.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 May 2013)
Russia: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
A confirmed case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever has been recorded in a resident of the Proletarian District of the Rostov region in Russia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 May 2013)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, poultry
In the Mainland, the Guangzhou City Agricultural Division announced that one chicken in Fuli market, Licheng, Zengcheng City of Guangdong was infected with Avian Influenza serotype H7. Control measures were performed including closure of the market and culling more than 9500 birds.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16 May 2013)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Novel Coronavirus Infection [Update]
The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has informed WHO of an additional two laboratory-confirmed cases with infection of the novel coronavirus (nCoV).
The two patients are health care workers who were exposed to patients with confirmed nCoV. The first patient is a 45-year-old man who became ill on 2 May 2013 and is currently in a critical condition. The second patient is a 43-year-old woman with a coexisting health condition, who became ill on 8 May 2013 and is in a stable condition.
(Source: World Health Organization 15 May 2013)
Paraguay: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
There is an increased frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in Paraguay and it affects mainly children less than 2 years old.
(Source: ProMED-mail 15 May 2013)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Novel Coronavirus Infection [Update]
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has confirmed 4 new cases of novel coronavirus infection in its Eastern Province. According to the local health ministry, one of the 4 new cases had been treated and the patient had been released from hospital, while the 3 other new cases were still being treated.
(Source: ProMED-mail 14 May 2013)
Argentina: Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever
The Santa Fe provincal Ministry of Health in Argentina confirmed the death of a young man who was suspected to be infected with Argentina hemorrhagic fever. Moreover, there are 2 probable cases currently in serious condition and treated in intensive care units in Rosario.
(Source: ProMED-mail 13 May 2013)
In Central New York, USA, cases of Lyme disease infection are on the rise.
[Editor’s note: Lyme Disease is an infectious disease caused by spirochaete. The disease is characterised by a distinctive skin lesion, general discomfort, fatigue, fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle and joint pain, and lymph node swelling. Neurological, cardiac and joint abnormalities may occur in varying combinations over months to years. Lyme Disease is transmitted by ticks. It is not transmitted from person-to-person. Wild rodents and deer are important host of the vector tick species. To prevent acquiring the disease, travellers should wear light-coloured clothing that covers legs and arms, tuck trousers into socks and apply tick repellent such as DEET to skin.]
(Source: ProMED-mail 13 May 2013)
Since January 2013, 30 000 cases of typhoid fever have been recorded every month in Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital of Malawi.
(Source: ProMED-mail 13 May 2013)
Mainland: Avian Influenza, poultry
In the Mainland, an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza which killed 35 birds was reported in a village in Tibet. The remaining 372 birds were culled.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 13 May 2013)
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea): Avian Influenza, poultry
In Democratic People's Republic of Korea, an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza affecting 164 000 birds was reported in a farm in Pyongyang-si.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 13 May 2013)