Current Travel Health News

In Australia, an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease affecting 5 people with one death was reported in Footscray in Melbourne's west. Health Officials are testing and disinfecting air-conditioning cooling towers in Footscray.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 January 2013)

The Ministry of Health of Cambodia announced three new human cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza. Two of them died and they were a 15-year-old girl from Takeo and a 35-year-old man from Kampong Speu. The third patient, an 8-month-old boy from Phnom Penh has recovered.

(Source: ProMED-mail 25 January 2013)

In the Philippines, 23 suspected cases of anthrax were reported in Abra province. They felt sick after eating meat from a dead carabao.

(Source: ProMED-mail 27 January 2013)

In Hyderabad, India, a sudden rise in malaria cases was noted recently with 51 cases reported in December 2012 as compared with only 5 cases reported in 2011.

(Source: ProMED-mail 27 January 2013)

In Vietnam Da Nang City, 3 patients were infected with Streptococcus suis after they consumed infected pork and blood pudding.

(Source: ProMED-mail 23 January 2013)

In Canada, health officials reported 30 people in Maritimes and Ontario have been infected with Escherichia Coli O157 infection and laboratory results showed that all cases were linked and most likely cause was lettuce.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 January 2013)

Poliovirus was detected in two sewage samples from Cairo, Egypt and was found to resemble strain in the Pakistani city of Sukkur. Health authorities in Egypt have ordered vaccination against Poliomyelitis to all children under 5 years of age in areas where samples were found.

(Source: ProMED-mail 22 January 2013)

In Singapore, the National Environment Agency has observed an increase in the number of Dengue Fever cases in January. There were a total of 208 dengue cases.

In the Philippines, about 60 persons have contracted with Dengue Fever in Eastern Samar. Local health authorities reminded public to take precautions against the mosquito-borne disease in the rainy season.

Cases of Dengue Fever have been reported in South America Countries including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Venezuela. In Bolivia, up to 16 January 2013, 370 confirmed cases and 1560 suspected cases were reported. In Colombia, up to 18 January 2013, 74 cases were reported. In Ecuador, one serious case was reported. In Paraguay, 9467 cases were recorded in past 30 days. In Venezuela, as of 21 December 2012, 48346 cases were recorded.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 & 22 January 2013)

Health officials in Indonesia detected outbreak of H5N1 Avian Influenza which has killed 160 000 ducks since September 2012.

(Source: ProMED-mail 21 January 2013)

In Wisconsin, USA, 3 patients contracted Escherichia Coli O157 infection after consuming raw ground beef products by Glenn's Market and Catering. Raw ground beef products that may be contaminated has been recalled from the market.

(Source: ProMED-mail 20 January 2013)

A suspected case of Hantavirus infection presented as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome had been reported in Neuquen province, Argentina. The case was hospitalized on 15 January 2013 and died on 16 January 2013.

(Source: ProMED-mail 18 January 2012)