Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (27 June 2004)
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: Sudan [update-2]
As of 20 June, health officials of Sudan have reported a total of 18 cases, including 6 deaths, of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Yambio county, south Sudan. Some recently classified cases have been reclassified as measles cases after further review.
(Source: World Health Organisation 22/6/04)
Poliomyelitis epidemic warning: Africa
West and Central Africa is on the brink of the largest polio epidemic in recent years. At least 237 cases, or five times as many children, in the region have been hit by polio in 2004 as last year. Over 80% of the cases occurred in Nigeria.
The upsurge has been linked to a suspension of the vaccination programme in northern Nigeria. This means that ten countries have now been reinfected with the virus since the Nigerian state of Kano stopped immunisations for eight months last year after Islamic elders voiced concerns about vaccine safety. It is hoped the vaccination programme will soon be resumed.
(Source: World Health Organisation 22/6/04)
Health officials of Indonesia reported outbreaks of malaria in Papua and West Java provinces. Papua province recorded 16,771 malarial cases in first half of this year, while West Java province recorded at least 660 cases.
Travellers are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites and to take anti-malarial medication before traveling to these endemic areas.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25/6/04)
Dengue fever: Vietnam [update-1]
As at mid-June, dengue fever infections in Vietnam have tripled to 15,923 cases during the 2nd quarter of this year. Deaths from the disease totalled 29 so far.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20/06/04)
Dengue Fever : Sri Lanka [update-5]
Health Ministry of Sri Lanka reports that dengue fever has spread seriously in the country. The reported number of dengue patients this year has risen to 5,434 with 33 deaths. One third of the deaths occurred in the Colombo District.
(Source: ProMED-mail 20/06/04)
Yellow Fever: South Americas [update]
Up to 23 June 2004, the Ministry of Health of Peru reported 52 cases of yellow fever, with a case-fatality rate of 52 percent. These cases were identified in the Departments of Cuzco; Huanuco; Junin; Loreto; Madre de Dios; San Martin. Another 31 suspected cases are undergoing investigation.
In Bolivia, 9 cases of yellow fever were reported in the Departments of La Paz and Santa Cruz, with a case-fatality rate of 40 percent. Another 3 suspected cases coming from the Departments of La Paz and Cochabamba are pending laboratory confirmation.
In Brazil, 3 cases of yellow fever were reported in Para state and Amazonas state.
In Colombia, 22 cases of yellow fever were reported, with a case-fatality rate of 36 percent. These cases are a continuation of the extensive outbreak that began in 2003 in the Department of Norte de Santander, which later extended north to the Departments of Cesar, la Guajira, Magdalena, and then south to the Department of Meta.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25/6/04)
[Editor Note: Travellers should adopt anti-mosquito measures and receive vaccination against Yellow Fever before visiting these endemic regions.]