Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (3 September 2007)
Global: Health Considerations for Cruise Ship Travellers
In view of the increasing cruise ship travel, the World Health Organization recently highlighted some health considerations for cruise ship travellers and reminded them to seek medical advice from physician or travel health specialist for specific prevention guidelines, relevant immunizations, anti-influenza medication and medication for motion sickness, as well as observing personal hygiene. They should also consult their health care providers if they have any health conditions that might increase the potential for illness during their journey.
(Source: Weekly Epidemiological Record, World Health Organization 24 August 2007)
In the USA, a number of wild animals were found carrying the Rabies virus. Rabid bats were recently reported in Washington DC, Kerr county of Texas, Will county of Illinois and North county of California. In addition, a rabid raccoon was found in Kendall county as well as a rabid skunk and cat were found in Kerr county of Texas. Officials advised people to avoid contact with any wild animals including raccoons, foxes, and bats. Anyone who is bitten by a bat or whose eyes, nose, mouth or wounds come into contact with the animal’s saliva should wash the area and seek medical advice.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2 September 2007)
In Italy, the Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of Chikungunya Fever affecting about 100-150 residents in the little town of Castiglione di Cervia in Ravenna province of Emilia Romagna region.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 and 2 September 2007)
In India, hundreds of patients requiring hospitalization and 93 deaths due to Cholera were reported in Orissa that had been affected by the disease after the monsoon. Among the deaths, 49 were in Rayagada, 34 in Koraput, and 6 in Kalahandi district.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 August 2007)
The Hong Kong Department of Health confirmed an imported case of Cholera affecting a 23-year-old woman who had history of travel to Pakistan. This is the second case (both imported) of Cholera reported in Hong Kong so far this year.
(Source: Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR 28 August 2007)
A Cholera epidemic has spread in northern Iraq, particularly in Kirkuk and Sulaimaniya. Thousands of suspected cases were admitted to the hospitals in the past week and at least 5 people died so far.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28 August 2007)
Russia: Tick-borne Encephalitis
In Russia, over 200 cases of Tick-borne Encephalitis were confirmed in St. Petersburg and Leningrad province of Northeastern Federal District, as well as Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk Oblasts of Urals Federal District this year. Tick activity was reported to be increased in August and would not fall until October. Officials reminded the public that vaccination against tick-borne disease could be performed all year round.
[Editor's note: Tickborne Encephalitis is a viral infection. It is transmitted by bite of infective ticks or by consumption of infected milk. The incubation period ranges from 7 to 14 days. Patients may present with fever, malaise, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, confusion, and paralysis. In general, 1 to 2 percent of the cases died of the disease. Travellers should adopt measures similar to anti-mosquito measures to avoid tick bite and avoid consumption of unpasteurised milk. Vaccine is available in some endemic area.]
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 August 2007)
In Guinea, 800 Cholera cases were reported over the last week, bringing the total number of cases to 2500 with 90 deaths since January 2007. The number of cases has increased considerably since this July in the capital, Conakry. So far, the city accounted for half of the Cholera cases in the country.
In Tanzania, there was a new Cholera outbreak in the north affecting 31 people. Among the cases, 2 of them died of the disease.
(Source: ProMED-mail 30 August 2007)
In Algeria, an outbreak of Typhoid Fever has occurred in Djelfa province, 300 km south of Algiers. So far, 36 cases have been confirmed.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 August 2007)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Unknown disease
Democratic Republic of the Congo reported an outbreak of unknown disease with a high mortality rate in the province of Kasai Occidental. The exact number of cases and deaths was not known at this time. Cases usually presented with fever, headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. More than half of the cases were children under 10 years of age.
(Source: World Health Organization 31 August 2007)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
An outbreak of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever occurred in a remote area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 4 villages near Mweka of Kasai Occidental province, a total of 217 people were infected and 103 of them died in the past 2 weeks. Every people died after attending the funeral of 2 village chiefs.
(Source: ProMED-mail 29 August 2007)