Travel Health Service Year 2004

Current Travel Health News

Travel Health News

Travel Health News Digest (26 December 2004)

Health advisory for New Year holidays

New Year holidays are coming and many will travel abroad. On the eve of the season, this Service advises travellers to take precautionary measures against travel-related hazards and diseases. Precautionary measures include the following:

1. Before the trip: Have a sound understanding of the travel health risks of your destinations and relevant preventive measures, including vaccinations and medications. As some vaccines may not become effective immediately, one should allow enough time for vaccination.

2. Security alert: Recently, a number of consulates had issued security alerts. They advised nationals to avoid bars and places crowded with foreigners when travelling in Southeast Asia and Middle East. One should pay attention to local news and current affairs when visiting high risk areas.

3. Good hygiene: Gastrointestinal diseases like Cholera, Typhoid and Hepatitis A can be contracted by consuming contaminated food or water. They are common in tropical areas like Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa where perennial hot environment promotes the growth of germs. Travellers should keep good Food and Personal Hygiene.

4. Avoid mosquito bites: Malaria, Dengue Fever, Yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis can be transmitted by bites of mosquitoes. These vector-borne diseases are endemic in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Travellers should always take active measures to prevent Mosquito-borne diseases.

5. Avian influenza: This year, several Asian countries were affected by avian influenza and human cases were noted in Thailand and Vietnam as well. Precautions to prevent respiratory tract infection should be taken when travelling to these areas.

6. Phuket, Japan and Korea are popular tourist areas where the weather is very hot and cold respectively. One should know how to deal with the extreme temperature when visiting these areas. The advices to follow can be found at Heat and cold section of our Travel Health web site. Moreover, when travelers are participating in skiing, they should know whether they are fit for the sport or not. Beginners should under the guidance of a coach and warm up exercise is necessary before skiing to prevent injury.

7. In addition: One should beware of Accidents and Sexually transmitted diseases.

8. On return: Seek medical attention if you have diarrhoea, stomach pain, fever or rash. Remember to inform doctor about your travel history so as to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

 

USA: Lymphogranuloma venereum

San Francisco public health officials issued a warning on 20 December, after identified 4 cases of a rare sexually transmitted disease known as lymphogranuloma venereum. Although the disease is seldom seen outside poor tropical nations, 92 cases were reported among gay men since last year up to September 2004 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Isolated cases have also been reported in Belgium, France, Sweden and Atlanta of USA. Since, none of the 4 patients had visited Rotterdam, local officials believed that more cases might yet to be discovered in the city.



(Source: ProMED-mail 22/12/04)



[Editor Note:
Lymphogranuloma venereum is a sexually transmitted disease, usually found in tropical and sub-tropic regions. In temperate regions, it is predominantly seen among male homosexuals. The incubation period varies from 3 to 30 days. The infection begins with small painless papule on the external genitalia, frequently unnoticed. Other symptoms include: fever, chills, headache, joint pain, anorexia, inguinal buboes and ulceration.]

 

Mali: Yellow fever

One case of yellow fever was confirmed in Mali this month. Yellow fever has not been reported from Mali for the past 10 years.



(Source: ProMED-mail 21/12/04)



[Editor note
: Travellers to Mali should consult medical practitioners for advice of yellow fever vaccination before the trip, and follow anti-mosquito measures during their trip.]

 

Africa: Cholera [Update]

During the last week, there were 167 cases with 1 death case of cholera notified to the World Health Organization from Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were 116 cases with 2 death cases reported in Kenya and 685 cases with 6 death cases in Senegal.



(Source: World Health Organization 17/12/04)

 

South Africa: Avian influenza, ostriches

The last 2000 ostriches infected with bird flu in the Graaff-Reinet district, Eastern Cape, had been culled. So far, more than half of the ostrich population in the province had been culled since the outbreak of the avian influenza in August.


(Source: ProMED-mail 22/12/04)

 

Sri Lanka (South): Undiagnosed disease

Eight people from Matara district recently died from symptoms similar to bird flu. Matara is about 130 kilometers south of Colombo.



More than 50 people were receiving treatment for severe respiratory difficulties in hospitals along the southern coastal belt districts of Matara.



(Source: ProMED-mail 20/12/04)

 

Japan: Avian influenza, human

Japan confirmed the first human case of bird flu on 22 December and 4 other people were suspected of catching the disease after involved in the mass culling operation in Kyoto Prefecture early this year.



(Source: National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 24/12/04)

 

Asia: Avian influenza, poultry

Outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in 6 southern provinces in Vietnam. More than 10,000 chickens, ducks, quail, and geese had been culled. The affected provinces were Bac Lieu, Long An, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, An Giang and Can Tho. Vietnamis facing potential outbreaks in the northern region this winter whose cold weather favors the disease's spread.



South Korea confirmed the outbreak of H5N2 virus, a mild strain of bird influenza virus, at a duck farm in Gwangju, about 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul. All 9,000 ducks on the farm were slaughtered while a wide quarantine area had been designated around the farm to prevent possible spread.



(Source: ProMED-mail and Xinhuanet 23/12/04)

 

Asia: Tsunami

The Indonesian earthquakes and the Asian tsunami led to the death toll of over 20,000 reported in countries included Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives and even some countries in Africa.



Travellers going to the affected areas should be prepared for the after shocks and outbreaks of infectious diseases. Seek medical advice immediately if any symptoms and signs developed.



Food and water

Only consume boiled / treated water and cooked food as the sources of water and food in the affected areas may be contaminated. This would reduce the risk of getting food poisoning, cholera and other food-borne diseases.



Accommodation

Be prepared for the after shocks, tidal waves, flooding, landslides, falling objects, fire, electrical shocks, gas leakage. Stay in accommodation that is safe and secure. Beware of hanging objects. Stay away from buildings that have been damaged.



Clothing

Wear long-sleeved clothing to prevent cold and mosquito bites. Many of the affected areas are also endemic in mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Use insect repellents and mosquito nets.



Emergency contacts

Bring along a list of emergency contact numbers (e.g., local emergency numbers, airlines, hotels, tour guides, relatives and friends).



For enquiries or information on vaccines / chemoprophylaxis, travellers may contact the Port Health Travel Health Centre of the Department of Health (Tel: 2961 8840). Travellers outside Hong Kong may also dial the IDD 24-hour hotline at 8103 1717 for information.

 

Taiwan: Dengue fever [update-16]

Recent temperature drop led to a decrease of dengue fever in Pingdong County. Up to 18 December, Taiwan Department of Health reported 408 confirmed cases of dengue fever, including 320 local cases and 88 imported cases. There were 282 local cases in Pingdong County, followed by 44 cases in Kaohsiung City.



(Source: Department of Health, Taiwan & Central News Agency, 21/12/04 & 22/12/04)

 

Guangzhou: Rotavirus

In Guangzhou, about a thousand children were hospitalized for rotavirus infection. A 3-year-old kid died of rotavirus infection. There were also rotavirus cases in Shenzhen. More than 500 children received treatment due to diarrhoea in recent days. Expert emphasised that there was no increase in the number of cases as compared with the figure in the previous month. However, this was still the peak season of rotavirus infection. Everyone should take measures to avoid getting infected. The cause of this infection may be due to the fact that the transmission could not be terminated, for example, the sick children still went to school and their excreta was not cleaned properly.



(Source: Yang Cheng Evening News 21/12/04)