Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (17 October 2004)
Yellow fever: Venezuela [update-2)
In early October, Venezuela confirmed 3 new cases of jungle Yellow fever, with 2 deaths. The 3 cases were identified in the municipalities of Bolivar and Maturin.
(Source: ProMED-mail 11/10/04)
West Nile Virus: North America [update-4]
In Canada, the total number of probable and confirmed human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection was increased by 8 to 29. There had been no fatal cases.
Last week in USA, a total of 86 cases of human WNV illness had been reported from 18 states. So far this year, 40 states had reported 1951 cases of human WNV illness. Of these, 30% were reported in California, 19% in Arizona, and 12% in Colorado. There were a total of 62 fatal cases.
(Source: ProMED-mail 14/10/04)
Poliomyelitis: Africa, South Asia [update-4]
Poliomyelitis has spread across West and Central Africa from Nigeria to 7 previously polio-free countries in recent months. In Nigeria, 597 cases were reported this year, which accounted for about 77% of the global cases. The suspension of immunization campaigns in northern states due to rumours about the safety of polio vaccine made the situation worse.
In Cote d’Ivoire, 12 were reported up in less than a year. Almost all cases were registered in the rebel-held northern part of the country where most health institutions had ceased functioning. In Sudan, 11 confirmed cases were reported this year. Cross-border movement between Chad and Sudan was believed to have re-introduced the virus to the polio-free country since 2001.
In Asia, 62, 31 and 3 cases were reported in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan this year respectively. They are the only three Asian countries where polio is still endemic.
(Source: ProMED-mail 14/10/04)
Infectious Disease Statistics: Mainland
In this year third quarter, there were reported cases of notifiable infectious diseases from all 31 provinces. Among the 27 notifiable infectious diseases, no case of poliomyelitis nor SARS had been reported, while over 1.08 million cases of the other notifiable diseases had been reported, in which 1999 cases were fatal.
The five diseases with the highest reported incidence were pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis B, bacillary and amoebic dysentery, gonorrhea, and syphilis, accounting for 87% of the reported cases. The top killer five diseases were rabies, pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis B, AIDS, and epidemic encephalitis, accounting for 83% of the reported deaths.
(Source: Ministry of Health, China 10/10/04)
Food parasites alert: Mainland
The Ministry of Health had issued a warning to remind the public about the prevention of foodborne parasitic infection due to the consumption of raw fresh water products. In recent years, the consumption of raw or undercooked fresh water products was increasing. People ate Sashimi, raw fish congee, used the same knife or chopping board for cutting raw food and cooked food, or drank unboiled water, resulting in the rising incidence of foodborne parasitic infection.
At present, serious foodborne parasite infection include the liver fluke, lung fluke, ginger fluke, and the Guangzhou cylindrical fluke. They may affect the liver, the lungs, lead to malnutrition, and affect the brain respectively.
(Source: Xinhuanet 14/10/04)
The Singapore Ministry of Health reported a local outbreak of cholera in early October affecting 8 people aged 20 to 84. This was the first cholera outbreak in Singapore in the recent five years.
Investigation revealed that majority of the patients had patronised hawker stalls and eating establishments in Bedok.
(Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore 15/10/04)
Dengue Fever: Taiwan [update-8]
Until last week the confirmed cases of dengue fever reported in Taiwan was approaching 200, of which 117 are locally acquired. The situation is especially serious in Pingdong County, where 108 cases have been reported, followed by Kaohsiung City with 8 cases, Taichung City and Kaohsiung County with one each.
The outbreak in Pingdong County was mainly occurred in Pingdong City, and it was still spreading. In LingYa District of Kaohsiung City the first case of dengue haemorrhagic fever this year is confirmed.
(Source: Central News Agency 15/10/04, Department of Health, Taiwan 13/10/04)
[Editor Note: The dengue situation in Taiwan, particularly Pingdong County seems to have worsened. Travellers should adopt anti-mosquito measures.]
Fujian Department of Health reported an outbreak of dengue fever. Several areas in the province were affected since middle of September this year. As of todate, 30 confirmed cases and 19 suspected cases of dengue fever with no death were registered.
Out of the 30 confirmed cases, 4 were imported cases. Of the 26 local cases, 20 occurred in Fuzhou Taijiang, 4 in Minhou, 2 in Lianjiang.
(Source : Fuzhou Daily 15/10/04)
Dengue fever, imported: Hong Kong SAR ex-Philippines [update]
One more case of dengue fever was confirmed by the Department of Health, making a total of 26 cases so far this year.
The patient traveled to Philippines in late September for 12 days. She complained of fever, joint pain and skin rash one day before returning to Hong Kong. She was hospitalized and now recovered.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 14/10/04)