Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (8 August 2004)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (US) reported that more than 400 cases of infection with West Nile virus occurred in the US this year. There were seven death cases reported. The states that reported cases included Arizona and California.
West Nile virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. People infected with West Nile virus may develop fever, headache, malaise and vomiting. In severe cases, there may be neurological symptoms. There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection. Travellers should take anti-mosquito measures precautions to avoid mosquito bites and minimize the risk of acquiring West Nile virus infection or other mosquito-borne diseases.
(Source: CDC, USA 7/8/04)
CDC of Taiwan confirmed a fatal case of melioidosis. The deceased was a military school student. The authority emphasized that this was a sporadic case. The other 23 classmates of the deceased were not infected by the bacteria.
The illness is caused by a bacterium called Burkholderia pseudomallei. The bacterium is present in certain soils and waters. People acquire the infection by inhalation of infected dust, ingestion of affected water, and contact with contaminated soil through skin abrasions. Affected people may develop fever, headache, muscle ache, skin pustule, chest pain and cough.
(Source: CDC Taiwan 3/8/04)
An outbreak of malaria has broken out in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. A large number of people have already been infected. In the past Dhaka has generally been considered free of malaria. In 2003, there were about 70 000 cases of P. falciparum malaria in Bangladesh.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 & 4/8/04)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI): Asia [update-4]
In Thailand, a total of 98 confirmed or suspected outbreaks of HPAI involving 65 areas scattered across 23 provinces in July. On 3 Aug, 11 areas had been removed from the list of affected zones, while about 20 more spots had detected no new infections of the disease.
In Vietnam, there have been 5 HPAI outbreaks in 5 different locations in July. On 3 Aug, Vietnam has just detected one bird flu outbreak in the southern city of Can Tho. All of the 600 affected chickens were culled.
In August, Singapore has suspended imports from one duck farm in Perak of Malaysia, since a suspected avian flu infection in a shipment of ducks from the farm has been found.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR & ProMED-mail 4/8/04)
According to the Ministry of Health, the number of cases of gastroenteritis during the first 5 months of the year totalled over 160,000 cases, showing a rise of almost 11% as compared with the same period last year. The number of death was 74.
(Source: Ministry of Health, China 3/8/04)
Dengue fever alert: Southeast Asia
With outbreaks of dengue fever being reported from Bhutan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, the WHO is cautioning neighboring countries to be on alert to strengthen disease surveillance, particularly along the border districts.
In Bhutan, dengue fever cases have been reported for the first time with 1565 suspected cases and no death in July 2004 in its southern regions near the border with India.
In Bangladesh, 698 cases with 3 deaths have been reported up until 21 Jul 2004, while there have been 9062 cases and 59 deaths in Sri Lanka due to dengue fever.
(Source : ProMED-mail 1/8/04)
Dengue Fever: Taiwan [update-2]
In Taiwan, the health authority announced on August 8 that the local outbreak of dengue fever has so far resulted in 11 confirmed cases. The 5 newly confirmed cases in this week were all infected in the Pingdong city.
Within the 11 confirmed cases, 2 cases were serotype 4 and all the other 9 cases were serotype 1 dengue fever.
(Source: Central News Agency 8/8/04)
Health officials of Tajikistan confirmed on 29 July that 7 people in the southern Khatlon province had contracted anthrax following the eating of contaminated beef while another 2 have been hospitalized with suspected anthrax. Another 16 people have been considered at risk. The contaminated beef came from a non-vaccinated cattle of one local farmer.
Health authorities have now planned to vaccinate all cattle in 4 southern and eastern provinces against anthrax.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3/8/04)
Acute Mountain Sickness death: Xizang, China
A university student travelled to Tibet in mid-June. She reached Qomolangma Base Camp at 5200 m of Himalayas and had symptoms of acute mountain sickness(AMS). Despite prompt transferal to Lhasa and Xigaze at 3800m for treatment, she still died of High Altitude Cerebral Edema(HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema(HAPE).
(Source: AppleDaily News 3/8/04)
[Editor Note: Travellers visiting Qinghai-Tibet Plateau should familiarize with symptoms of AMS, allow sufficient time for their bodies to acclimatize to the height. They should take more rest, walk slowly, less showers, drink plenty of water, avoid large meals and alcohol during the first few days after landing. They can also consider taking preventive medication to minimse the symptoms.
Direct flight from Hong Kong to Lhasa is available. Passengers would move from sea level to high altitude in only 3.5 hours. Therefore they should pay particular attention to AMS.]