Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (9 January 2005)
In United States, 2 cases of imported malaria were reported in November 2004. Both victims had history of travel to Punta Cana (La Altagracia Province) and San Francisco de Macoris (Duarte Province) in Dominican Republic.
In addition, Canadian health authorities also reported 6 cases of malaria among travelers returning from Punta Cana.
(Source: CDC, USA 17/12/04)
[Editor Note: All travelers to La Altagracia Province and Duarte Province, including travelers to the Punta Cana resort area, should take anti-mosquito measures and consider taking antimalarial medical prophylaxis, the choice being chloroquine. In addition, antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended for travelers to rural areas in all parts of the country.]
In Venezuela, the heatlh officials reported 420 cases of dengue fever and 37 cases of dengue haemorrhage fever with no death. However, the trend of dengue fever had been decreasing over the last 6 weeks.
In Brazil, there had been an 85 % reduction of dengue cases in Sao Paulo in 2004 as compared to 2003.
(Source: Ministry of Health of Venezuela 4/1/05, ProMED-mail 4/1/05)
Africa: Poliomyelitis outbreak
Saudi Arabia reported an imported case of poliomyelitis from Sudan. As of 6 January, 105 cases of poliomyelitis have been confirmed in 17 of the 26 states in Sudan
Cote d'Ivoire’s government official reported that the number of recorded cases of polio shot up to 17 in 2004 from just one the previous year. The reason could be disruption of vaccination campaigns due to political instability in the West African coutnries.
(Source: World Health Organisation 7/1/05, ProMED-mail 7/1/05)
In Mali, one case of yellow fever was confirmed in the district of Kita. A 14-year old patient died of yellow fever in November 2004.
In Guinea, an outbreak of yellow fever was reported recently, West Africa. It was the first outbreak reported from the country since 2003.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3/1/05, 6/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers to Mali or Guinea should consult medical practitioners for advice of yellow fever vaccination before their trips and take anti-mosquito measures during their trips.]
In Mozambique, 13 suspected cases of cholera have been notified in the central Mozambican province of Manica last week, victims suffered from diarrhea and vomiting. No deaths have been registered so far. In Nigeria, an outbreak of suspected cholera in the Delta State capital, Asaba, has claimed about 15 lives. 7 of the deaths were reported in the Cable Point area, a congested section bordering the River Niger, while the remaining victims were reported in the Power Line and Oko Ogbele areas. (Source: ProMED-mail 20/12/04)
Taiwan: Dengue Fever [update-18]
Last year, 1,421 cases of Dengue fever were reported in Taiwan, tripling the figure of 2003. More than 70% of the infections were reported in the second half of the year, and the peak occurred during September to November.
Many cases were reported in the southern region, in which about 45% and 20% of the cases were reported in Pingdon County and Kaohsiung City respectively.
(Source: Department of Health, Taiwan 5/1/05)
[Editor Note: Dengue fever is endemic in southern Taiwan with risk of infection exists throughout the year. Travellers should always remain vigilance against mosquitoes and actively take anti-mosquito measures. ]
Malaysia’s Minister of Health warns there could be an outbreak of dengue fever brought by the mosquito, Aedes Albopictus, in the coming two months.
Normally 450 cases of dengue fever were reported per week but it had been increased to 1,000 cases recently. The number of dengue cases had doubled in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Perak states. Last year, 32,000 cases of dengue were reported with 60 deaths.
(Source: Central News Agency 8/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers to Malaysia and other south-east Asian countries should take anti-mosquito measures during the trip.]
The meningococcaemia outbreak in Baguio City continued to affect Philippines, with 2 fatal cases reported recently. A total of 42 cases of meningococcaemia had been reported from March to December 2004 in Baguio City, in which more than 10 cases occurred in November and December. The total number of fatal cases was 24.
During the first 5 days of the year, 14 cases (4 being fatal) were reported in the northern mountainous provinces, in which 6 of them occurred in Baguio City with 2 deaths.
The Department of Health advised those visiting Baguio city to avoid going to crowded places. If they have to go, they should wear surgical masks and shorten the visit.
(Source: Central News Agency 3/1/05 & 6/1/05, Ministry of Health, Philippines 6/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers visiting Baguio City should consider meningococcal vaccination and also avoid close contact with people with fever or severe headache, and observe good personal hygiene including washing hand frequently. Returning travellers should seek medical advice if they feel unwell after their trips and let their doctors know their travel history.]
Southeast Asia: Avian Influenza [update-19]
Health officials of Vietnam reported 4 new cases of human avian influenza, making a total of 5 with 2 deaths reported recently (For detail of the first case, please see Outbreak News Digest 2 January 2005). All cases came from the southern provinces, Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh and Tay Ninh, where poultry outbreaks had been reported since November last year. Local officials pointed out that the risk of infection will reach a peak during the coming winter and Lunar New Year.
Last year, there were 47 human cases of avian influenza in Thailand and Vietnam with 34 deaths.
(Source: World Health Organization 7/1/05, Xinhua Net 9/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers to countries with avian influenza should always observe good personal and environmental hygiene. To minimise the risk of contracting avian influenza, they should avoid going to zoo or farm, and avoid contact with animal or poultry. For more information on prevention of avian influenza, please refer to Prevention of Avian Flu - Health Tips for Travellers.]
The death toll from the catastrophe has now edged towards 160,000.
In Thailand, health officials reported 90 cases of diarrhoeal diseases, 8 influenza, 21 wound infections, 4 pneumonia, 3 malaria, 16 dengue haemorrhagic fever and food poisoning in 6 provinces.
In Batticaloa district camps of Sri Lanka, 40 cases of diarrhea had been reported.
In India, no outbreaks of communicable disease had been reported so far. There were sporadic cases of diarrhea and 14 cases of measles reported. A mass measles inoculation programs for children in tsunami relief camps in southern India is underway by UNICEF.
In Indonesia, two cases of cholera and 9 cases of tetanus were reported in Banda Aceh. Measles, wound infections, pneumonia and diarrhea were also reported according to local media.
In Maldives, 469 diarrhoea, 395 viral fever and 130 acute respiratory infectious cases were reported.
(Source: World Health Organization 7/1/05 & 9/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers going to the affected areas should take precautions and be prepared for outbreaks of infectious diseases. Please refer to Advice for Travellers who visit Affected Areas of Tsunami and Earthquake in Asia.]