Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (11 September 2005)
From 28 May to 2 August 2005, 7 cases of Tularemia have been reported in western Washington, USA, including 2 cases in Cowlitz County. Officials advised people to take precautions to prevent from infections, such as not handling dead rodents or other animals.
(Source: ProMED-mail 6 September 2005)
[Editor’s Note: Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is typically found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits, and hares. Tularemia is usually a rural disease. Typically, people become infected through the bite of infected insects (commonly ticks), handling infected sick or dead animals, eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or inhaling airborne bacteria. Symptoms may be different according to the modes of transmission. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache, skin ulcer, enlargement of lymph node, eye pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough etc. The disease is treatable with antibiotics.]
In Wisconsin of USA, health officials of La Crosse County reported 3 cases of La Crosse Encephalitis last week, with ages of 2, 8 and 57. The peak time for La Crosse encephalitis is August and September, and local health officials advised on anti-mosquito measures.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 September 2005)
[Editor’s Note: La Crosse Encephalitis is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquito. It usually affects children aged 6 to 15. The incubation period is about one week. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, and seizures may occur in about half of the cases. Although there may be persistent disabilities in a minority of cases, fatalities are rare. ]
Russia: West Nile Virus Infection
In Astrakhan of Russia, as of 9 September, 60 cases of West Nile Virus Infection were reported in a recent outbreak.
(Source: ProMED-mail 11 September 2005)
In Comoro, more than 1 000 people had been infected with Measles in the past two months. Health authorities were struggling to contain the outbreak.
(Source: ProMED-mail 10 September 2005)
In Costa Rica, more than 19 000 cases of Dengue Fever had been reported so far in 2005. Among the cases, 30 of them were cases of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and one was fatal.
(Source: ProMED-mail 8 September 2005)
Democratic Republic of Congo: Undiagnosed Disease
In Democratic Republic of Congo, an undiagnosed disease had killed at least 38 people and affected 1 300 others in a diamond mining area of Libaku ya Suka, eastern Maniema Province since July. Pneumonic Plague was suspected.
(Source: ProMED-mail 5 September 2005)
In south-east London of UK, a total of 12 adults had contracted Legionnaires' Disease in Lewisham area in the last 8 weeks. A common source of infection had yet to be identified.
(Source: ProMED-mail 6 September 2005)
Iran: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
As of late August, Iran reported 65 cases of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever this year, increased by 22% when compared with same period last year. Among these cases, 13 of them were confirmed, including 5 deaths.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 September 2005)
[Editor’s Note: Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever is a febrile illness with bleeding tendency and is caused by the bite of an infected tick. The Sistan Baluchistan province that borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan was most affected during 2004. Travellers to affected areas should adopt anti-insect measures.]
India: Japanese Encephalitis [update]
In India, health official reiterated that more than 600 people had died of Japanese Encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh since late July 2005. The outbreak was originated in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh and had spread to the state capital, Lucknow.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 September 2005)
In Nepal, an outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis had affected more than 800 people and caused at least 200 deaths in the past 2 months. Nepalganj, a border city 500 km west of the capital, was one of the most seriously affected areas. Nearly 60 patients had died of the disease in less than 3 weeks.
(Source: ProMED-mail 9 September 2005)
In New Delhi of India, 6 new Dengue Fever cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases to 70, including 3 deaths. In west Bengal, about 1 000 people were affected and 15 people had died of the disease. The situation was worst in Calcutta and nearby district towns.
(Source: ProMED-mail 8 September 2005)
Indonesia: Poliomyelitis [update-9]
In Indonesia, 7 new Polio cases were confirmed from Banten, Lampung, Central Java, East Java and North Sumatera provinces, bringing the total number to 242.
(Source: World Health Organization 9 September 2005)
Singapore: Dengue Fever [update]
In Singapore, on average about 80 new Dengue infections were reported each day. There were 8 850 cases of Dengue Fever so far this year, about twice the number for the same period last year. Eight people had died of the disease.
(Source: ASEAN Disease Surveillance 7 September 2005)
Indonesia: Hong Kong citizen contracted Dengue Fever
The Department of Health confirmed the sixteenth case of imported Dengue Fever this year. The patient returned from Indonesia in late August, and developed fever and diarrhoea one day later. He was hospitalised and was in stable condition.
(Source: Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR 7 September 2005)
[Editor’s Note: Travellers to Indonesia should adopt anti-mosquito measures. Residents are encouraged to stay alert to the threat of Dengue Fever and help in the reduction of mosquito breeding sites.]
Taiwan and Thailand: Hong Kong citizen contracted Dengue Fever
The Department of Health confirmed the fifteenth case of imported Dengue Fever this year. The patient went to Taiwan and Thailand in mid to late August, and developed fever, chills, rigor, mild headache and muscle pain after returning to Hong Kong. She was discharged.
(Source: Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR 5 September 2005)