Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (20 June 2004)
Health officials reported that 12 people had died from leptospirosis in Chesamisi of Western Province, with another 86 being admitted to hospital in serious condition.
The schools and the communities have been drawing water from various contaminated rivers and have not been treating the water. The most likely source is suspected to be rodents.
(Source: ProMED-mail 18/6/04)
Typhoid : Hong Kong SAR, ex-Cambodia
Department of Health reported four suspected cases of typhoid fever in June.
The victims were participants of a missionary tour and travelled to Cambodia in early June for one week. All developed symptoms while in Cambodia. They are hospitalized to their condition were stable.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 16/6/04)
Cholera cases continued to be reported from New Delhi, with 10 new cases on June 14. The total number of cholera cases reported in the capital is now 825.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19/6/04)
The World Health Organisation has received reports from the Ministry of Health, Cameroon of 2924 cholera cases and 46 deaths in Littoral and West Regions in this year up to 9 June.
In Uganda, health officials in Mbarara district had temporarily closed open-roofed eating places and suspended the sale of cold drinks in Ibanda, following an outbreak of cholera, affecting 22 persons, including 3 deaths.
(Source : World Health Organisation 15/6/04; ProMED-mail 19/6/04)
The first dengue fever death in Jeddah, capital of Saudi Arabia has been reported, together with another 2 suspected cases.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10/6/04)
Dengue Fever : Indonesia [update -11]
Indonesia Health Ministry stated that there were 669 deaths amid the dengue fever outbreak from January to May 2004. The threat of dengue fever is still high.
(Source: Central News Agency 16/6/04)
Dengue Fever : Sri Lanka [Update-4]
Since last report at end of May (see 30 May 04 Digest), Sri Lanka reported another 1,000 cases of dengue fever, including 8 more deaths. Up to 6 June, the number of people infected with the mosquito-borne viral disease rose to 4,348 and number of deaths to 24.
The problem was concentrated in 4 districts, including the capital Colombo, but dengue cases were now being reported from throughout the island mainly because of intermittent rains that helped mosquito breeding.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10/6/04)
An outbreak of malaria has been reported in Kasese district since June. Last year Kasese district reported 490 malarial deaths.
In 2003, Uganda reported over 137,000 malarial cases. Cases were reported in many high altitude areas not usually affected by the disease. Travellers are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites and to take anti-malarial medication in the entire country all year round.
(Source: ProMED-mail 11/6/04)
[Editor’s Note: Kasese is located in southern Uganda at an altitude of over 1100 meters.]
Malaria, imported: Hong Kong SAR, ex-Myanmar
One more case of imported cases of Malaria was confirmed by the Department of Health.
The patient travelled to Myanmar for 10 weeks and returned to Hong Kong in early June. He developed symptoms of fever, malaise, chills and rigor 6 days after arriving Hong Kong. He was hospitalized and his condition was stable.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 15/6/04)
[Editor’s Note: Travellers to Southeast Asia should take precautions against malaria. Travellers should adopt anti-mosquito measures and consider taking anti-malarials and seek advice from travel health practitioners.]
Health officials in Colorado state of USA are asking people who visit or live around Pawnee National Grasslands to look out for signs of plague. Six dead prairie dogs found in Weld County were tested positive for bubonic plague.
Residents were advised to watch rodent populations near their homes and report any sudden die-offs to the health department.
(Source: ProMED-mail 12/6/04)