Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (18 July 2004)
Up to now, there are about 7,400,000 cases of HIV carrier reported in Asia. Last year, Asian countries reported 1,100,000 cases of HIV infection, with about 500,000 deaths due to AIDS.
In Asia, 1% to 2% of the total population is infected with the virus, far lower than the 20% - 30% in Africa. However, the speed of spread in Asia is shocking because the population size is huge.
Drug addicts are the major source for transmission of the disease. They often engage in prostitution and transmit the virus to customers who in turn get infected and transmit the virus to their spouses and then onto the next generation. Therefore, promoting safe sex has become a major strategy in fighting AIDS in Asian countries.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency 14/7/04)
Leptospirosis continues to spread in the Western province of Kenya, affected at least 100 pupils of 4 primary schools in Bungoma District. Earlier, the disease struck another primary school in the same district, where a pupil died, and 80 others were hospitalized in critical condition.
(Source: ProMED-mail 13/7/04)
Between May and June this year, 173 persons were bitten by bats along the Purricha River in Choco province of Colombia. Of these, 13 children died of rabies.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16/07/04)
During the first half of this year, at least 20 cases of anthrax have been reported. Of these, 10 occur recently, with 7 in Selenge province and 3 in Dzavhan province. Most contracted the disease from infected cattle. Control measures have been implemented by the health authorities.
(Source: SohuNet 8/7/04)
In Batken province of Kyrgyzstan, 124 people have been hospitalized with suspected typhoid. The first case was detected in late May. The numbers reported rose up to 15 people admitted each week.
(Source: ProMED-mail 13/7/04)
The number of patients suffering from hepatitis A virus infection in South Korea reached a record level 76 cases in June. The majority occurred in South Chungchong province (45), Kyonggi province (15), Seoul (8) and the rest in Inchon, Taejon, and Taegu.
Almost 80% of these cases had been to the same restaurant. The underground water supply that the restaurant used is a highly possible source of the trouble.
(Source: ProMED-mail 13/7/04)
Dengue Fever: Bangladesh [update-2]
The number of dengue-infected patients, including those who have been cured in the last 2 months, now stands at 258 in capital Dhaka. The number is still on the rise in the current monsoon season. Experts pointed out the intermittent rainfalls during the current monsoon created a favorable condition for the growth of the vector Aedes mosquitoes.
For the past few years, thousands of people in Bangladesh have been attacked by the disease annually, and some 50 people died of the disease in 2003.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16/7/04)
Health officials of Bhutan reported an outbreak of dengue fever in the city of Phuentsholing. As of 14 July, 1393 cases were recorded with no deaths.
(Source : ProMED-mail 16/7/04)
[Editor Note: Phuentsholing is located on the southwestern part of Bhutan, bordering the West Bengal state of India.
Health officials of Myanmar capital Yangoon warn residents to take precautionary measures against dengue fever as the disease is prevailing due to the rainy season. No figures on numbers infected were released.
Last year there were 7,907 dengue cases reported in Myanmar, of which almost 3,000 occurred in capital Yangoon.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency 4/7/04)
In Taiwan, the health authority announced on July 15 that the local outbreak of dengue fever in Pingdong city has so far resulted in 4 confirmed cases and 1 suspected case. The 4 confirmed cases were all infected in the neighborhood of Chang An Lane, while the suspected case lives near the index case of the current outbreak.
(Source: Central News Agency 15/7/04)
Malaria, imported: Hong Kong SAR ex-Papua New Guinea
One imported case of malaria was reported by the Department of Health.
The patient travelled to Papua New Guinea in January 2004 and stayed there till early July. He had fever and chills 5 days after return to Hong Kong. He was admitted to hospital and his blood test confirmed infection with Plasmodium vivax malaria. He is now in stable condition.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 17/7/04)
Avian influenza: Asia [update]
Thailand confirmed that a total of 12 provinces have been affected by outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza. The affected provinces include Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Angthong, Sukhothai, Nakhon Sawan, Phathum Thani, Uttaradit. More than 40 000 chickens have been killed to halt the spread of the disease.
In Vietnam, avian flu has spread to 7 provinces. About 50 000 poultry had been culled.
So far, only poultry are affected. No human case has been reported.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16/7/04)
[Editor Note: Travellers to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Mainland (Anhui) are advised to take precautionary measures :-
- avoid visiting poultry farms and bird markets.
- avoid contact with sick or dead poultry.
- if contact, wash hands immediately with soap and water.
- seek prompt medical attention if fallen ill after the trip.]