Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (9 February 2009)
In Malaysia, there were 5 062 cases of Dengue Fever including 14 deaths were reported as of 28 January 2009, which was higher than that during the same period in previous year.
(Source: Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan 5 February 2009)
Vietnam: Avian Influenza, human
In Vietnam, a 23-year-old man from Dam Ha District in the northern province of Quang Ninh was tested positive for the H5N1 Avian Influenza, This is the second case recorded in Vietnam in 2009.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 February 2009)
United Arab Emirates: Legionnaires' Disease
There was a suspected outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in a 5-star hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates among 3 guests of the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi. One of them was a 69-year-old British male who stayed in the hotel in mid January 2009, returned to United Kingdom on 20 January 2009 and died on 29 Jan 2009. Tests by European and American experts on the hotel have so far not found the Legionella bacterium.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 February 2009)
Egypt announced a new human case of H5N1 Avian Influenza infection. The case was a 2-year-old boy from Suez Governorate, Ganain District. He was hospitalized and in a stable condition at the moment. Investigations indicated a recent history of contact with dead poultry. Of the 54 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 23 were fatal.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 February 2009)
South Africa: Cholera [update 1]
In Limpopo of South Africa, 3 680 cases of Cholera including 20 deaths have been reported since the outbreak of disease on 15 November 2008.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4 February 2009)
As of 3 February, a total of 65 739 Cholera cases, including 3 323 deaths, were reported from all the provinces in Zimbabwe.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4 February 2009)