Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (21 May 2006)
Indonesia: Avian Influenza, human and poultry
The Ministry of Health in Indonesia confirmed 8 more human cases of Avian Influenza, 7 of them died. The cases came from North Sumatra (6 cases), East Java (1 case), and East Jakarta (1 case). The newly confirmed cases bring the total in Indonesia to 41. Of these cases, 32 have been fatal.
Indonesia has found the Avian Influenza virus in chickens in Papua province. A number of fighting cocks in Manokwari regency tested positive for the H5N1 virus in late April 2006, prompting authorities to cull about 200 chickens.
(Source: WHO 18 and 19 May 2006, ProMED-mail 17 May 2006)
Egypt has confirmed the 14th case of human infection with the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus. The case occurred in an old woman from the Al Minya governorate. She developed symptoms on 11 May and died on 18 May.
(Source: World Health Organization and ProMED-mail 18 May 2006)
Czech Republic: Avian Influenza, swans
Veterinarians have discovered 2 new cases of bird flu in dead swans found in southern Moravia. Tests have confirmed the H5 virus in both birds. In all, 14 cases of bird flu have occurred in the Czech Republic. The previous 12 dead swans were found in South Bohemia and all of them were infected with the H5N1 strain.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20 May 2006)
Russia: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Russia, tests have confirmed that 86 dead chickens found in the village of Maksimovka in the Omsk region between 29 April and 13 May were infected with the H5N1 Avian Influenza strain.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20 May 2006)
Denmark: Avian Influenza, poultry
Danish authorities have reported the country's first case of H5N1 Avian Influenza in poultry. Authorities have set up a 3 km protection zone and a 10 km observation area round where the infected birds were found.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 and 20 May 2006)
Romania: Avian Influenza, poultry
The bird flu virus was found in 3 chicken plants in Brasov County, central Romania. These were the first cases of bird flu outbreaks in commercial chicken farms in Romania. The 3 plants were all located in Codlea town, Brasov County. All 104 000 birds in one of the farm will be culled. Other 14 localities in Brasov County had suspected cases of bird flu.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17 May 2006)
Laos: Avian Influenza, poultry
The H5N1 Avian Influenza strain has been found in a duck in a backyard farm 20 km (12 miles) south of Vientiane, Laos. The duck was discovered in February 2006 by researchers on a surveillance project in the area.
(Source ProMED-mail 18 May 2006)
Thailand: Hong Kong traveller contracted Dengue Fever
The Centre for Health Protection of Hong Kong Department of Health confirmed an imported case of Dengue Fever, bringing to 11 cases so far this year. The 46-year-old female patient complained of fever, muscle pain and skin rash since May 8. She had travelled to Thailand prior to onset of symptoms.
(Source: Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR 16 May 2006)
As of 16 May 2006, Angola has reported a total of 35 775 Cholera cases and 1 298 deaths. 11 out of 18 provinces are affected. Of all cases, 51 per cent have occurred in Luanda and 21 per cent in Benguela province.
In Sudan, an outbreak of cholera started in Yei at the end of January 2006, and 6 out of 10 states have confirmed cases. As of 5 May 2006, the cumulative number of cholera cases in southern Sudan is 13 852, with 516 deaths. The current focus of the outbreak is in East Equatoria State.
In Guinea, 448 cases of cholera had been reported in Guinea between the end of January and 23 April 2006. Of the 60 deaths recorded from the disease so far, 47 had been registered at Gueckedou.
In Tanzania, an outbreak of cholera has killed nearly 40 people and sickened hundreds more on mainland Tanzania and the semiautonomous Zanzibar archipelago since Mar 2006.
In Zimbabwe, cholera has killed at least 12 people while 26 others were hospitalized in Kachuta, Guruve District.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19 May 2006)
An outbreak of Mumps was reported in a primary school in Nanjing City, Mainland. The outbreak started more than one month ago and more than 700 pupils were affected so far. Up to now, an average of 10 to 20 cases was reported daily and they were ordered not to go to school.
(Source: ProMED-mail 15 May 2006)
Namibia's flagship trophy game species, the kudu, is under threat from Rabies. Two veterinarians, Dr Otto Zapke and Dr Beate Voights, confirmed the outbreak, with Dr Zapke saying probably "thousands" of kudu died in the Omaruru area. Dr. Zapke also pointed out that the Okahandja and Windhoek areas are showing more prevalence of rabies.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18 May 2006)