Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (11 June 2013 - 17 June 2013)
Republic of Congo: Cholera [Update]
A cholera outbreak which was detected in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo has caused 1054 cases and 16 deaths since November 2012.
(Source: Promed Mail 16 June 2013)
As of June 2, an outbreak of cholera affecting more than 200 people was reported in Nepal.
(Source: Promed Mail 16 June 2013)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [Update]
The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia has notified WHO of an additional three laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. The first patient is a 63-year-old woman with underlying medical conditions from the Eastern region, the second patient is a 75-year-old man with underlying medical conditions from Al-Ahsa governorate and the third patient is a 21-year-old man from Hafar Al-Batin governorate who died. Additionally, a previously laboratory-confirmed case has died.
Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 58 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, including 33 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 14 June 2013)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Yellow Fever
Six cases of Yellow Fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were laboratory-confirmed on 6 June 2013.
(Source: World Health Organization 14 June 2013)
A health official in Angola reported 598 cases of Cholera were diagnosed in Huila Province from February 2013 to the present day, including 23 deaths.
(Source: Promed Mail 13 June 2013)
A malaria outbreak was detected in Kagera region of Tanzania. More than 20 people, mostly children, have died of malaria in Kagera since the end of May.
(Source: ProMED-mail 12 June 2013)
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control announced indigenous dengue fever cases have been confirmed in Xinyuan Township and Chunri Township of Pingtung County, in Tainan City and in Kaohsiung City.
(Source: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control 11 June 2013)
As of 6 June 2013, Thailand has reported 39 029 cases of dengue fever with 44 deaths. The number of cases is on the rise.
(Source: ProMED-mail 11 June 2013)
There are 9696 cases of dengue fever reported in Singapore since January 2013 with 816 new cases in last week. The Ministry of Health of Singapore have been notified of the death of a dengue patient involving a 60-year-old man. This is the second dengue death case this year.
(Source: Ministry of Health of Singapore 10 & 12 June 2013)
A case of poliomyelitis was reported from Maharashtra State of India and suspected to be caused by vaccine derived poliovirus. The virus involved in this case is reported to be vaccine derived poliovirus 2. An 11 month old infant has been infected.
(Source: ProMED-mail 11 June 2013)
A total of 224 persons infected with the outbreak strain of SalmonellaTyphimurium have been reported from 34 states in USA. This outbreak has been linked to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live baby poultry purchased from multiple feed stores and sourced from multiple mail-order hatcheries.
(Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention 6 June 2013)
Asia: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Regional Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease activity is starting to increase. Japan, Macau and Republic of Korea have reported more cases in 2013 than in 2012 for the same time period. The recent trend is showing gradual increase of cases in China, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong. There has been a sharp increase of cases in Macau while levels remain stable in Japan.
(Source: World Health Organisation, Western Pacific Region Office 29 May 2013)
A fatal case of Hantavirus infection was reported in Arizona, USA and the affected woman has died from complications of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10 June 2013)
In Bihar, India, two children aged 2 and 11 have died of Japanese Encephalitis and the number of death has increased to 20 in the state.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10 June 2013)
As of 15 April 2013, a yellow fever case has been confirmed in Diffa district, Niger.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 June 2013)
As of 7 May 2013, 6 confirmed cases of yellow fever have been reported from South Omo, Ethiopia.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 June 2013)
New Zealand: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
An outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease caused by Coxsackie virus A6 was detected in Auckland, New Zealand.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 June 2013)