Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (29 September 2004)
The World Health Organization reported that there were two more human cases of avian influenza H5N1 in Thailand. These two cases were part of a family cluster of four cases under investigation. Preliminary evidence revealed that human-to-human transmission may have occurred in these cases. However, the transmission of virus was still limited to family members and no wider community transmission had occurred. Altogether there were 15 cases in Thailand this year, of which 10 were fatal.
In addition, there were 3 human fatal cases of avian influenza H5N1 in Vietnam since early August. Totally there were 27 human cases of avian influenza H5N1 in Vietnam this year, of which 20 were fatal.
(Source: World Health Organization 28/9/04)
[Editor Note: Travellers to countries with avian influenza should always observe good personal and environmental hygiene. For more information on prevention of avian influenza, please refer to Prevention of Avian Flu - Health Tips for Travellers.]