Current Travel Health News

As of 14 March 2010, worldwide more than 213 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 16 813 deaths.

(Source: Swine and Seasonal Flu Monitor, Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong 25 March 2010)

As of 18 March 2010, the Department of Health of UK advises that monovalent H1N1 (2009) influenza vaccine should be offered to all travellers to countries in the Southern Hemisphere during their influenza season; this includes travel to the Football World Cup tournament in South Africa and other countries such as Australia and New Zealand. The influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere usually occurs during the months of April to September. Vaccination should ideally be completed two weeks before travel to enable an adequate immune response.

(Source: National Travel Health Network and Centre, UK 22 March 2010)

The Ministry of Health of Egypt announced a new case of human Avian Influenza infection. The case was a 4-year-old child from Beni Suef Governorate. This was the 107^th confirmed cases of the disease reported in Egypt.

(Source: ProMED-mail 23 March 2010)

In Vietnam, outbreaks of Avian Influenza among poultries were reported in Bac Ninh, Ben Tre, Tuyen Quang, Nghe An and Quang Ninh provinces.

(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 24 March 2010)

As of 13 March, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia has reported 10 462 cases of Dengue Fever this year, of whom 38 died.

(Source: Ministry of Health, Malaysia 16 March 2010) 

In 5 European countries: the United Kingdom, Norway, France, Sweden and Denmark, there were outbreaks of Norovirus Infection linked to the consumption of raw oysters. Since January 2010, 334 cases in 65 clusters were reported. Most cases had eaten oysters in restaurants.

(Source: ProMED-mail 25 March 2010)

In Bangladesh, an outbreak of Cholera affecting hundreds of people was reported in Dhaka district.

(Source: ProMED-mail 24 March 2010)