Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (19 September 2004)
Health officials in Guinea reported an outbreak of cholera that killed 10 people out of 30 recorded cases in central region. The origin of the outbreak has yet to be determined.
In Sierra Leone, the cholera outbreak in the capital Freetown has infected 237 and causing 15 deaths. The already decrepit sanitation system was overwhelmed by more than a month of torrential rain that sent raw sewage seeping into the streets.
(Source: ProMED-mail 17/9/04)
Fatal viral disease outbreak: India
In India, the Chandipura virus has claimed the lives of at least 250 children in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states. Recently, it has killed another dozen in Gujarat state. Victims complained of high fever, convulsions, diarrhoea and headache during the outbreaks and succumbed to it within 48 hours.
There is no treatment for this virus yet. Sandflies have been identified to be carriers of the Chandipura virus. They breed in dark places, animal and poultry sheds.
Last year, 183 children died from the virus in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states.
(Source: The Times of India 17/9/04; ProMED-mail 6/8/04)
Avian Influenza: Asia [Update-8]
In Bangkok and the central area of Thailand, apart from outbreaks of avian influenza, there have been cases of human influenza H3N2. There are concerns that the two may combine, resulting in a new and highly contagious form capable of human to human transmission with disastrous consequences worldwide. The return of avian influenza to Thailand since July has affected 24 of her 76 provinces.
In Malaysia, the government has enforced quarantine for its northeastern state of Kelantan to prevent the spread of avian influenza in poultry. Three children have been isolated for observation to exclude human cases.
In Vietnam, ducks of a local farm in Chi Minh City had tested positive for the avian influenza virus. The local authorities have slaughtered all the ducks and quarantined the affected area.
(Source: Central News Agency 15/9/04)
In response to World Health Organization’s warning that some regions of China may be involved in extensive influenza outbreak this year, the Shenzhen CDC issues an influenza alert to warn that the municipality is under the threat of flu outbreak and must be prevented.
Due to unusual climate this autumn with greater diurnal temperature difference and low flu activity during late spring and early summer period, it is expected that the flu virus could cause outbreak in the coming autumn. If the scale is large, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao may also be affected.
(Source: Ming Pao News 16/9/04)
Health officials of the Baguio City has advised residents to watch out against cholera due to the alarming rise in cases.
(Source : ProMED-mail 18/9/04)
Dengue Fever: Singapore [update-3]
An adult who was diagnosed to have dengue fever died later on Sep 10. He was the second person suspected to have succumbed to the disease this year in Singapore.
Up until Aug 7, a total of 3,525 people had been infected with dengue. The incidence of average 114 cases a week this year, is 26 percent higher than last year.
(Source: Straits Times 8/9/04)
Dengue Fever: Vietnam [update-4]
In Vietnam, over 45,800 residents including 73 deaths were reported to have suffered from dengue fever between January and early September 2004.
They were mostly from the southern provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Ben Tre, whose weather is most favorable for the development of mosquitoes. However, the number of dengue fever cases appears to have eased off since August.
(Source: Xinhua Net 8/9/04)
In Thailand, an outbreak of dengue fever affecting 1300 people with 5 deaths was reported in Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 260 km northeast of Bangkok. Health officials have issued an alert for residents there.
As of late August, the number of dengue cases reported in the whole country had reached 22 438, about half of the number registered in the same period of 2003.
(Source : ProMED-mail 18/9/04)
Dengue fever imported: Guangdong
In July this year, Guangzhou and Zhuhai each reported one case of imported dengue fever. On 6 September, Shenzhen reported the first imported case of dengue fever this year. All 3 cases contracted the disease from South-east Asia.
(Source: Ming Pao news 16/9/04)
[Editor Note: Travelers visiting South East Asia and South Asia should adopt anti-mosquito measures. Should fever develop within 2 weeks after return, they should seek medical attention immediately, and inform the doctor of the travel history.]
Dengue fever, imported: Hong Kong SAR ex-Philippines
One case of dengue fever was confirmed by the Department of Health, making a total number of 23 cases (all imported) so far this year.
The patient traveled to the Philippines for two weeks in mid August. She developed fever, tiredness, muscle pain and skin rash on the day before return to Hong Kong. She was admitted to hospital and has fully recovered.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 15/9/04)