Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (11 January 2004)
Hong Kong SAR ex-Thailand : Food poisoning outbreaks [update]
The Department of Health received the fourth report of Food Poisoning outbreaks among tour groups to Thailand on 6 January. Out of the 50 tour participants, 20 have been affected. The victims developed diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Several cases required hospitalization in Thailand and were subsequently discharged. All victims were in stable condition now.
Like the other 3 outbreaks reported last week, the suspected incriminated meal was the lunch buffet held on the beach of Khai Island near Phuket.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 6 January 2004)
[Editor Note: Travellers should observe at all times good personal, food and environmental hygiene. Tour operators should choose hygienic and reputable restaurants for serving meals to their tour members.]
A Cholera outbreak worsened in southern Mozambique with up to 40 new cases being treated daily. No deaths were reported in the outbreak that began in December 2003. In neighboring Zimbabwe, at least 30 people have died from cholera in recent weeks.
In Zambia, 484 cholera cases with 11 deaths have been reported since the disease broke out in November 2003.
The death toll from a cholera outbreak that has swept through the Niger River Valley in Mali since early November 2003 has reached 106, out of the 1,216 people being affected
In Uganda, 67 cholera cases with 2 deaths have been reported in early October 2003.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4/1/04)
Health Advisory for Lunar New Year holidays
The Lunar New Year is coming, and many will travel to the Mainland or overseas. This Service would like to remind the public and the travel industry of the health risks associated with travel, so as to enable travellers enjoy a safe and healthy trip.
Before the Trip
Prevention starts before the trip. Precautionary measures include:-
- Endeavour to understand more the health risks of your destinations and their preventive measures;
- Get vaccinated if indicated;
- Bring along preventive medications and paraphernalia;
- As some vaccines may not become effective immediately, one should allow enough time for vaccination.
During the Trip
· Food-borne disease e.g. Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, is the most common ailment encountered. Travellers to tropical areas like Southeast Asia, South Asia should therefore:
- Avoid not thoroughly cooked food;
- drink bottled water, avoid iced drinks;
- Do not patronize roadside hawkers.
· Last year, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak emerged in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada. Travellers should take precautions to prevent respiratory tract infection. For details see SARS website.
· A historic high of 48 imported cases of Dengue Fever were recorded last year, with two-fold increase as compared with 2002 figures. All the 48 cases can be prevented. The disease is transmitted by bites of mosquitoes and is prevalent in Southeast Asia and South Asia all the year round. Other mosquito-borne diseases, like Malaria, Yellow Fever, are prevalent especially in Latin America and Africa. Travellers should:
- Be aware of the risk of various mosquito-borne diseases at their destinations;
- Take active measures to prevent mosquito bites;
- if necessary, receive vaccination or preventive medications. Please consult your family doctor or a travel health practitioner for advice.
· Beware of accidents. In particular, the surge in traffic volume in the Mainland during spring Festival merits caution.
- Choose reputable companies when joining long distance coach tours;
- Do avoid boarding over-crowded or over-used boats or vehicles;
- For self-drive, do maintain vigilance especially when driving a left-hand-drive vehicle in unfamiliar environment;
- Be careful when participating in high risk activities like white-water rafting, para-gliding, diving, skiing;
- Taking care of yourself and others when playing with fire works and fire crackers.
Other health risks to note are:
· In areas endemic of Rabies, avoid contact with wild animals or domestic pets.
· In areas with cold climate, prepare enough warm clothing and avoid exhaustion to minimize the risk of getting upper respiratory tract infection or Influenza.
· Unsafe sex. Using condom correctly can lower the chance of getting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. But still the best thing is to avoid promiscuity and never have sex with strangers.
After the Trip
Prevention does not end when the trip is completed. On return, travellers should be aware that there is a chance that they might bring back infections and spread to the community. To minimize the risk, please:
- Seek medical attention if you have diarrhoea, stomach pain, fever or rash after trip;
- Remember to inform doctor your travel history so as to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
Wishing all travellers a happy and healthy trip!