Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (29 August 2004)
Poliomyelitis outbreak: Africa [update-2]
The on-going poliomyelitis outbreak in northern Nigeria continues to infect new countries. The recent two newly affected are Guinea and Mali. New cases are also confirmed in Darfur region of the Sudan.
Worldwide, polio remains endemic in only 6 countries. They are Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Niger, Afghanistan and Egypt.
(Source: World Health Organisation 24/8/04)
Food Poisoning, imported: Hong Kong SAR, ex-Thailand
The Department of Health reported that there were 13 imported outbreaks of food poisoning involving 80 people this month. Initial investigation revealed that they might have contracted the disease after lunch buffets at a restaurant on Koh Khai near Phuket, Thailand in mid August. The patients developed diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. All were in stable condition.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 27/8/04)
Hepatitis A, imported:Europe, ex-Egypt
An outbreak of hepatitis A has been detected, up to mid-August, among 100 tourists returning to Germany from holidays in Egypt. The patients stayed at a particular hotel by the Red Sea. Another 16 tourists from other European countries staying in same hotel had also been infected. The source of infection is still under investigation.
Egypt is a country with a high endemic risk of hepatitis A infection Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for travellers to Egypt who are not immuned.
(Source: Eurosurveillance 26/8/04)
In Chad, a cholera epidemic caused a total of 2198 cases, 108 of them fatal in the past 2 months. The cholera cases were mostly confined to the capital N'Djamena and nearby towns.
In Sierra Leone, heavy rains in the capital Freetown have contributed to a new cholera outbreak with at least 20 deaths since early Aug 2004.
In Niger, a cholera epidemic in villages along the Niger river has killed 27 people and caused 1426 cases over the past 4 months and threatens to spread to the capital Niamey.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27/8/04)
A malaria outbreak has occurred in Jiangsu province. So far this year, 240 cases of malaria have been reported, with patients mainly concentrated in Huaibe region, and now spreading towards Xuzhou city.
The main reasons for the surge in malaria cases are global warning and increase in vector density.
(Source: China News Service 26/8/04)
[Editor Note: Xuzhou city is located in the northwestern part of Jiangsu province, bordering Henan province. Before journey to malaria epidemic region, travellers should consult doctors to take anti-mosquito’s precaution and appropriate preventive medication.]
Dengue fever: Taiwan [update-3]
The Taiwan Department of Health announced that another 4 local cases of dengue fever were confirmed in Pingdong city within the past seven days. The total number of local cases in the city now stood at 15. The residential areas of patients had already been disinfected. Blood samples of asymptometic collaterals had been taken for investigation. The results were pending.
(Source: Central News Agency 26/8/04)
Guangxi health officials have listed Beihai Shi as a major target area in the campaign of prevention against dengue fever. In view of intense traffic of goods and people between the city and neighboring Vietnam and Guangdong Province, the importation of any source of infection will likely result in an epidemic. Moreover, the distribution of Aedes albopictus, the vector mosquito, within the city is found to have spread.
There were two dengue outbreaks in the city in 1980 and 1986 respectively, which together resulted in more than 1400 cases, with 2 deaths.
(Source: China News Service 27/8/04)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza : Asia [update-5]
In Malaysia, an outbreak of avian influenza H5N1 was detected in fighting cocks in a village near the Thai border in mid-August 2004. A 10 km-radius quarantine area for chickens has been declared to contain and control the disease.
In China, health officials announced that H5N1 virus had been found in pigs in two isolates from 2001 to 2003. However, the pigs carrying the viruses did not develop symptoms. Moreover, no mutation of the virus into a form more dangerous to humans had been observed.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza has killed 27 people in Vietnam and Thailand so far this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 24/8/04, Xinhua Net 25/8/04)
[Editor Note: Travellers going to affected areas should avoid visit to live bird markets and poultry farms. They should avoid contact with live poultry and birds and should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact. They should also observe good food hygiene and only consume fully cooked poultry products and eggs. If illness develops after return from trip, they should see a doctor and inform travel history.]
Bubonic Plague: USA (Colorado)
A middle-age woman in Weld County is the first person in Colorado state to get bubonic plague in 4 years. Health department is investigating how she contracted the disease.
Her diagnosis closely follows several cases of plague in cats. Residents have been warned to be careful with rodents and to keep cats indoors. Cats can give plague to humans through scratches, bites, or a cough.
Health officials also recommend:
1) Do not hold, play with, or feed rodents (include squirrels, pairie dogs)
2) Avoid contact with sick or dead rodents.
3) Watch out for cats with plague symptoms, which include lack of appetite, fever, lethargy, a swollen neck, coughing, and trouble breathing. They should not be handled without gloves and face protection.
4) Use insect repellant when hiking.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25/8/04)