Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (5 September 2004)
Avian Influenza: Asia [ update-6 ]
Thailand confirmed on 2 September 4 Mon sport in 2 northern province and one central problem with avian influenza outbreak.
Two women form Thai Nguyen province in northern Vietnam had respiratory symptom compatible with avian influenza. One had died. Laboratory instigation is on-going, with results pending.
(Source : Xinhua Net 31/8/04, 2/9/04)
Health authorities in France have notified a recent case of rabies in a dog with multiple opportunities to transmit the disease to humans and other animals. The dog’s owner, a resident of Bordeaux in the Gironde region, frequently took the dog for walks throughout the city, and had also traveled with the dog to other parts of southwestern France as well. Throughout period 2 – 21 August, the infected dog had several contacts with persons and dogs and is known to have bitten some persons. authorities are now urgently seeking any additional persons and animals who may have been in contact with this dog during the infectious period.
(Source : World Hhealth Organization 1/9/04)
Health official of Mongolia confirmed 3 persons contracted anthrax in Bulgan province, while several cattle died of the infection. The conditions of the 3 cases were satisfactory. Another anthrax case was also confirmed in Tov province recently.
So far this year, over 20 cases of human anthrax cases have been reported in Mongolia. Most of them were infected by sick cattle. The manifestation was mainly of cutaneous type which is less serious and curable if it is treated in time.
(Source: Xinhua Net 25/08/04)
Health officials confirmed 1 death of Yellow Fever in Merida. Intensive immunization is being performed in the rural communities.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2/9/04)
West Nile Virus: North America [update - 2]
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 210 new cases of West Nile virus infection last week. Totally there were 1,053 cases of West Nile virus infection with 28 deaths occurred in the US this year. A total of 36 states including California have reports of the infection.
A total of 7 new cases were reported in the past week, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 11 in Canada this year. For the first time in 2004 cases of West Nile virus infection have been reported in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Cases were also reported in Ontario and Quebec.
Travellers should take anti-mosquito measures precautions ot avoid mosquito bites and minimize the risk of acquiring West Nile virus infection or other mosquito-borne diseases.
(Source: ProMED-mail 26/8/04 , CDC, USA 31/8/04)
Dengue fever: India (New Delhi)
Health official of India said that New Delhi faces a serious threat of dengue outbreak in 2004. Recently 7 cases had been reported.
Last year, there were about 2000-3000 dengue cases reported in India with 36 deaths.
(Source: The Hinder 3/9/04)
Dengue Fever: Taiwan [Update - 3]
Taiwan Department of Health announced that one local case of Dengue Fever in Pingdong city was confirmed. Booting the number of local cases of 16.
Up to end August, there are 58 cases if imported Dengue Fever reported. All these cases are imported from Southeast Asia countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Burma and India.
(Source: Department of Health Taiwan 30/8/2004)
Dengue fever, imported: Hong Kong SAR ex-Philippines
One more case of dengue fever was confirmed by Department of Health, making a total of 22 cases so far this year.
The patient traveled to the Philippines in mid August for 9 days. He suffered from fever, headaches, and muscle pain 4 days after return. He was hospitalized, and had been discharged after recovery.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 03/09/04)
[Editor Note: Travellers visiting South East Asia should adopt anti-mosquitor measures. Should fever develop within 2 weeks after return, they should seek medical attention immediately, and inform the doctor of the travel history.]
Malaria, imported from India and Cameroon
Four imported case of malaria were confirmed by the Department of Health. Two each were from India and Cameroon respectively.
For the Indian cases, the first patient stayed in India in July and flew to Hong Kong in August. The second patient stayed in India in July till August this year. He developed fever, chills and headache two days before arrived at Hong Kong in late August. Both were admitted to hospital and confirmed infection with a malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax. Both are now in stable condition.
For the African cases, the first patient came from Cameroon in mid August this year. He develop fever and headache in late August. The second patient came from Cameroon in late August. She developed fever, nausea and vomiting during her flight to Hong Kong. Both were admitted to hospital and confirmed to be suffering from malignant malaria.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 31/8/04, 2/9/04)
For the past seven days, 100 cases of malaria were reported in Kyrgyzstan, of which 52 cases were from Osh region. They were thought to be malignant malaria.
The situation of malaria in Kyrgyzstan started to worsen in 2002, when there were 2400 cases, while in 2001 there were only a few cases. One of the reasons for such a rise was active migration from bordering Tajikistan, where 0.5 million cases were noted. In 2003, only 480 cases were recorded due to improved management of this disease.
(Source : ProMED-mail 3/9/04)
[Editor Note: Travellers to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan should take precautions against mosquito-bite, and seek advice from travel health practitioner on the type of antimalarials to be taken.]
Leptospirosis : India (Gujarat)
An outbreak of leptospirosis occurred in south Gujarat, India since this monsoon season beginning in July. In Surat, Navasari and Valsad districts, 402 cases of suspected leptospirosis, were reported, with 20 deaths confirmed.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2/9/04)
[Editor Note: Gujarat is located about 1000 km south-west of capital New Delhi. Travellers should minimize contact with potentially contaminated water by wearing protective clothing to avoid wading or swimming in streams and lakes contaminated with infected animal urine.]
Typhoid fever, imported: Hong Kong SAR ex-Nepal
One imported case of typhoid fever was confirmed by the Department of Health.
The patient came from Nepal in late August this year. He developed symptoms of fever and diarrhoea one day before arrival. He was admitted to hospital and confirmed to have contracted typhoid fever. He is now in stable condition.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 1/9/04)
Food Poisoning, imported: Hong Kong SAR, ex-Shenzhen
Cases of food poisoning involving 10 Hong Kong residents have been reported after consuming sandwiches from the same bakery in Shenzhen from August 29 to 31. They developed gastrointestinal symptoms, including fever, diarrhea and vomiting from 5 to 31 hours after eating the sandwiches and were admitted to hospitals after back to Hong Kong.
A similar food poisoning outbreak in Shenzhen associated with consumption of sandwiches produced by the same food company had been reported a couple of days earlier.
(Source: Department of Health, H K SAR 2/9/04)
Cholera, Hepatitis E outbreaks: Chad
A total of 2,046 cholera cases and 98 deaths have been reported from June to August 2004 in Western Chad. The outbreak started in Massaguet, north of capital N'Djaména; from there it spread to Lac and Kanem provinces as well as to N'Djaména. The previous week a total of 453 new cases occurred in the capital.
During the same period, a total of 959 cases and 30 deaths of suspected hepatitis E virus infection has been reported from Goz Amer and Goz Beida.
Hepatitis E infection is mainly transmitted by consumption of unclean food and water. The average incubation period is about a month. Symptoms and signs are similar to those of hepatitis A, including fever, generalized weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and jaundice. Preventive measures is similar to that for travellers’ diarrhea.
(Source: World Health Organisation 31/8/04 , 1/9/04)
Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome : Russia (Tatarstan)
In Tatarstan, central Russia, so far in 2004, the number of cases of heamorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has reached 250, including 2 deaths, which is 2.5 times higher than last year’s figure. Most of the patients had visited forested areas, where red-backed vole, the vector of HFRS, has increased considerably in number due to unregulated felling of timber.
(Source: ProMED-mail 31/8/04)
Bubonic Plague: USA (Colorado) [update]
Another 2 cats were diagnosed recently with bubonic plague in Jefferson County, Colorado State, USA. So far this year, 8 cats across the State caught the disease. Health officials said that plague activity, after an absence of 4 to 5 years, is beginning anew in Colorado.
Last week a middle-aged Weld county woman was hospitalized with plague. Cats can transmit the disease to humans by scratching, biting, or coughing. (see 29 August 04 Digest) Travellers should avoid touching cats with signs of illness, which include lack of appetite, fever, lethargy, a swollen neck, coughing, and trouble breathing. They should use insect repellants when hiking.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1/9/04)
[Editor Note: The renewal of plague activity in animals is also seen in Western China. See article above]
One case of human plague was each reported in Sunan county in Gansu province and Qilian county in Qinghai province respectively. Both areas had been under control. As rodent plague situation shows an increasing trend, the Ministry of Health has alerted all health institutions to intensity efforts in the prevention and control of plague.
The case in Gansu province was a farmer who hunt, skinned and consumed a marmot in late April. He developed symptoms of chills and general malaise 4 days later. He was late admitted to hospital, confirmed to have contracted bubonic plague, and discharged well in June. Details are not available for the fatal case in Qinghai province.
The Ministry of Health advises:-
(1) Do not hunt marmots and rodents
(2) Do not eat animals known to be source of plague
(3) Do not bring infected animals or products out of infected area
(4) Report sick or dead rodents and marmots.
(Source: Xinhua Net 31/8/04; China News Service 14/6/04 )