Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (12 April 2004)
Chemical powder poisoning - Brazil
On 5 April, a strong-smelling yellow powder was found next to the automatic teller machines inside a bank in Rio de Janeiro state. The powder strongly irritated the eyes and noses of those who entered the area. 9 people were sent to hospital for treatment.
(Source: ProMED-mail 8/4/04)
At least 78 people out of 2,293 patients diagnosed with malaria during the 1st quarter of 2004 have died at Caiundo commune of the south eastern Kuando-Kubango province.
(Source: ProMED-mail 11/4/04)
Dengue fever: Indonesia [update-8]
In the first 3 months of 2004, 52,013 cases of dengue were reported in Indonesia, doubled compared with the same period last year, with 603 deaths. The number of cases has been unusually high in at least 12 of 32 provinces of the country. Provinces in Java have been particularly severely affected, with more than 35 per cent of the cases reported from Jakarta. Although the total number of monthly reported cases has continued to increase, dengue activity appears to have peaked in some provinces but is still on the rise in others such as Kota Palembang, and Aceh.
(Source: ProMED-mail 8/4/04)
As of 31 March, Central African Republic has reported 43 cases of meningococcal disease with 7 deaths. Nana Boguila and Zere are the two districts affected.
In Chad up to 4 April, 19 cases of meningococcal disease with 4 deaths have been reported in Iriba district.
(Source: WHO 8/4/04)
Food poisoning: Japan, Tochigi
More than 200 school girls suffered food poisoning after dining in a sports facility in Tochigi Prefecture in late Mar 2004. Most of them had meals there since 29 Mar 2004 complaining of nausea and diarrhea and are steadily recovering from the poisoning. They took part in a tennis tournament held in Nasu from 26 to 30 Mar 2004. The prefectural government is trying to specify the source of the mass food poisoning.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5/4/04)
Measles and rabies: Democratic Republic of Congo
More than 14 people have died in the north eastern Orientale province of the Democratic Republic of Congo due to outbreaks of measles and rabies. A measles epidemic in the town of Basoko in the province has infected 828 people, claiming 9 lives, while in Isiro, in the same province, some 30 people have contracted rabies, and 5 of them have died. The government is planning to send health teams and called for UN health agencies to provide help. It was noted that the number of suspected rabies cases seemed high in relation to the number of deaths.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7/4/04)