Current Travel Health News

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed 2 cases of human infection with the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus. The first case was a 16-year-old male from West Java Province.  He developed symptoms on 26 July and died on 7 August.  He had contacted with sick and dying chickens in his household which were later found to be infected with H5 virus.  The second case was a 17-year-old female from Jakarta Province.  She developed symptoms on 28 July and died on 8 August.  The investigation on the source of infection was on-going. Of the 56 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 44 have been fatal.

 

In addition, Avian Influenza virus has reached easternmost Papua after attacking poultry in Java and Sumatra in the western region of the country.  About 174 chickens were believed to have died of the H5N1 virus as of 11 July 2006.

 

(Source: World Health Organization and ProMED-mail 8 & 9 August 2006)

The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has confirmed the country's 24th case of human infection with the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus.  The case, which was fatal, occurred in a 27-year-old man from the central province of Uthai Thani.  He developed symptoms on 24 July, was hospitalised on 30 July, and died on 3 August.  Investigation revealed a history of contact with household chickens, which began dying around 1 week prior to his symptom onset.  This was the country's second case of H5N1 infection and second fatality within the past 2 weeks.

 

(Source: World Health Organization and ProMED-mail 7 Aug 2006)

The Agriculture Ministry of Cambodia has confirmed a new outbreak of Avian Influenza in poultry in the country's southeast Prey Veng province.

 

(Source: ProMED-mail 12 August 2006)

An outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) was reported in a commercial farm in Vientiane of Lao.  About 2 500 chickens in the farm were affected.  The remaining 3500 fowls have been destroyed.

 

(Source: ProMED-mail 12 August 2006)

In the Netherlands, 2 young owls that died in a zoo in Rotterdam were suspected of having been infected with the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus pending further confirmation.

 

(Source: ProMED-mail 13 August 2006)

Sixty cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in Yuncheng in Shanxi Province of the Mainland since 13 July, among whom 19 were fatal. 

 

(Source: GOV.cn 13 August 2006)

More than 100 people in Zanzibar of Tanzania have been hospitalised for Cholera in the last week, among whom 1 person died. Health officials reported that at least 454 children had been treated for severe dysentery and diarrhoea at the Mnazi-Mmoja Hospital.  Cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks started in March, with a resurgence in late May, before erupting again in July in most areas of the Zanzibar Municipality and Pemba Island.

 

(Source: ProMED-mail 9 August 2006)

From 13 Feb to 6 Aug, the Health Ministry in Angola has registered 51 700 cases of Cholera that resulted in 2 156 deaths.  The newly recorded cases were in the provinces of Uige, Bengo, Benguela, Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul, Luanda, Kuando Kubango and Namibe.

 

(Souce: ProMED-mail 9 August 2006)

As of 4 August, the Ministry of Health of Turkey has reported 242 cases of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever this year, of whom 20 died.

 

(Source: World Health Organization 8 August 2006)

A stray kitten found in the Huguenot area of Staten Island, one of the boroughs in New York City of the USA, has tested positive for Rabies. One person was bitten by the kitten, and several others either fed or had direct contact with this kitten.  They were being treated to prevent Rabies.  There has not been a case of human Rabies in New York City for more than 50 years.

 

(Source: ProMED-mail 7 August 2006)