Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (13 June 2004)
Since the Rustamiya sewage plant in central Baghdad looted in April, over 100 recent cases of hepatitis E virus infection were reported. Frequent power cuts stop water pumps that keep sewage from flooding the streets. Even worse, one and a half tones of sewage were dumped into the Tigris River daily.
(Source: ProMED-mail 2/6/04)
A hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome outbreak related to hantavirus is thought to be imminent in the capital of Bashkortostan, which has already infected 44 people.
Bashkortostan and the surrounding area are well known for the prevalence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. This is the same large focus that extends from Samara, on the river Volga, to Uralsk on the Kazahkstan side.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1/6/04)
Dengue fever: Vietnam [update]
Up to early May this year, over 10,000 people in southern region of Vietnam were registered as suffering from dengue fever, with 16 deaths. This represents almost a 50% increase as compared with same period last year.
Most of patients live in Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces of Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3/6/04)
There were 16 deaths due to malaria in UK in 2003, 11 of whom did not take tablets to protect against malaria.
In 2002, there were only 9 malaria deaths. Experts explain the rise is due to people traveling abroad more frequently and increasingly to more tropical places, but few seeking travel advice. The number of trips tripled in the last 20 years.
In one airport survey, it was found that about 50% had failed to seek appropriate travel health advice. A quarter of these visiting a high-risk malaria area were unaware of the risk. Reasons for travellers failing to take malaria precautions were :
Ø Having an 'It won't happen to me' mentality
Ø Concerns about side effects of malaria tablets
Ø Mistaken belief that immunity comes with past exposure
Ø Misconception that mosquitoes only bite in swampy areas
Travellers should seek travel advice before trip, take the correct tablets for the area they are traveling to and remember to continue to take the full course of tablets after return from holiday.
(Source: British Broadcast Company news 27/5/04)
Malaria, imported: Hong Kong SAR, ex-Ghana
One case of imported cases Malaria confirmed by the Department of Health.
The patient traveled to Ghana in March for 10 weeks and came to Hong Kong in late May. He developed symptoms of fever, chills and muscle-ache 2 days after arriving Hong Kong. He was admitted into hospital and was diagnosed to be suffering from malignant malaria.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 5/6/04)
[Editor Note: Ghana is located in West Africa and is in endemic area of malaria. Malignant malaria may kill. Travelers should consult doctors before journey, take anti-mosquito’s precaution and appropriate preventive medication.]
A case of cholera was confirmed on 9 June. The patient has travelled to Asian areas during the incubation period. He developed diarrhoea and was admitted to hospital. His condition is stable. The case is still under investigation and yet to be classified.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 9/6/04)