Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (16 January 2005)
Antarctica: Acute mountain sickness
China's Antarctic expedition team with its 13 members reached the highest area, Dome A of Antarctica, for scientific research in the beginning of this year. When the team climbed up to 3800 metres, some of the members developed acute mountain sickness symptoms, including difficulty in breathing and one of them had severe symptoms that required immediate evacuation for treatment.
(Source: Xinhuanet 10/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travelers visiting high attitude should familiarize with the symptoms of AMS, allow sufficient time for their bodies to acclimatize to the height. They should take more rest, walk slowly, less showers, drink plenty of water, avoid large meals and alcohol during the first few days after landing. They can also consider taking medication to minimize the symptoms.
Dome A is known as one of the world's most inaccessible places with an altitude of 4,083 meters.]
Flights triple blood clot risk
According to the research done by World Health Organization, travelers flying more than 4 hours or above, have 3 to 5-fold increase in the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis than the general public. The risk is even higher in though travelers who are obese, taking contraceptive pills or hormonal replacement therapy.
(Source : Aviation Health News 9/1/05)
[Editor Note: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) means formation of a blood clot in the venous system. It may occur in any situation where there is prolonged stasis of blood in the deep veins of the legs. This process is seen most commonly in patients who are bed-bound in hospital after major surgery but is also seen in people who have sat still too long in long-haul airline flights, cars and trains.
Prevention of venous stasis is the most important measure. Long-haul flight travelers should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that is not tight at the knees or waist and may consider wearing compression stockings. Whenever possible and at least hourly, travelers should get up and walk around the cabin. In addition, travelers should drink enough water and avoid alcohol and coffee to prevent dehydration.]
Gabon national radio announced that an outbreak of typhoid fever had been confirmed in the northern rain forests. Around 50 cases with one death were reported over the past month in Oyem. Cases had also been noted in Minvoul and Mitzic. The outbreak had first broken out several months after the deterioration of the drinking water quality in Oyem. (Source: ProMED-mail 7/1/05)
Afghanistan: USA army contracted malaria
Thirty-eight soldiers from a 725-man US Ranger Task Force were diagnosed to have malaria up to 11 months after returning from eastern Afghanistan in 2002. Results of a survey of the task force revealed that only about half of respondents reported full compliance with prescribed anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis and less than 30% used insect repellent.
(Source: Journal of the American Medical Association 12/1/05)
In India, hepatitis E virus infection had swept across Mumbai’s southern peninsula in past few months, causing 93 deaths. Local public experts had not been able to locate the outbreak’s source.
(Source: The Times of India 6/1/05)
[Editor’s note: Hepatitis E usually spreads through contaminated water or foodstuff. Travellers visiting affected area should take precautions on food and personal hygiene.]
According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangxi would be the next province with filariasis eradicated. Hainan and Anhui provinces would be assessed this year for the progress of prevention of filariasis; and if succeeded, filariasis would be completely eradicated in China.
This chronic parasitic disease is common in tropical and subtropical regions, with 1.2 billion people infected globally. China is one of the countries with serious filariasis problem. Filariasis has been prevalent in 16 provinces, including Jiangxi, with 0.31 billion people being infected
(Source: China Central Television 8/1/05)
Bangladesh: HK visitor contracted dengue fever
The Department of Health confirmed an imported case of dengue fever. The patient developed fever, headache and eye pain in early December and recovered at the moment. He travelled to Bangladesh before the onset of symptoms.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 14/1/05)
In Taiwan, about 1500 new cases of AIDS were reported last year, in which about 400 cases were drug addicts. An increase of about 70% was noted as compared to 2003. In addition, 116 female new cases had also been reported, in which more than half of them were drug addicts.
(Source: Central News Agency 10/1/05)
Taiwan: Dengue fever [update-19]
As of 8 Jan 2005, 16 cases of dengue fever and 3 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever were reported in Taiwan. Of these cases, 8 dengue fever infections and 1 dengue hemorrhagic fever infection occurred in this year.
(Source: Department of Health, Taiwan 12/1/05)
[Editor Note: Risk of Dengue fever infection exists throughout the year in Taiwan. Travellers should always remain vigilance against mosquitoes and actively take anti-mosquito measures.]
Malaysia: HK visitor contracted dengue fever
The Department of Health confirmed an imported case of dengue fever. The patient travelled to Malaysia in December and developed fever and generalized rash in late December. She was subsequently discharged from hospital.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 13/1/05)
Malaysia: Dengue fever[ update]
During the last week of 2004, health officials of Malaysia reported 1,077 suspected cases of dengue fever. This showed an increase of 11 % as compared with the previous week. The highest jump was noted in Selangor state and Kuala Lumpur but not in Penang.
Last year, 33,203 suspected cases of dengue fever were reported, in which 1,463 cases were dengue haemorrhagic fever with 58 deaths.
(Source: China Central Television 13/1/05)
Guangdong: Meningococcal meningitis
One case of meningococcal meningitis was reported recently in the Guangdong province. Local expert said the peak of transmission occurs during the period of January to April each year, accounting for 60% of the annual cases. Young children under the age of 15 are the most susceptible group.
(Source: Xinhuanet 13/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers should 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.]
Philippines: Meningococcaemia [update]
Philippines health authorities reported a total of 33 cases and 19 deaths of a meningococcemia-like illness in Baguio City.
However, the clinical presentation and the high case fatality ratio observed were unusual. Further investigations were needed to determine the cause and extent of the outbreak.
(Source: World Health Organization 11/1/05)
Indonesia: Affected areas were at risk of infectious disease outbreaks. There were 40 cases of tetanus and 20 death cases were confirmed in Banda Aceh, and 7 cases and 5 deaths in Meulaboh. The numbers of tetanus cases were expected to increase. Tsunami and the rains were creating a huge number of mosquito breeding sites in Indonesia, with 7 malaria cases confirmed in the disaster zone last week. Due to the contamination of drinking water, cases of cholera were also detected in Banda Aceh.
India: No outbreaks of communicable diseases had been reported. Most of the patients were suffering from diarrhea, fever, acute respiratory infections or trauma.
Thailand: There were no confirmed reports of disease outbreaks. However, isolated incidence of diarrhoeal diseases continues to be reported.
No outbreaks had been detected at disaster relief centers in Malaysia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
(Source: World Health Organization 14/1/05, China Central Television 15/1/05)
Southeast Asia: Avian Influenza [update-20]
Two more persons died of avian influenza in Vietnam bringing the number of people killed by the virus to 4 since December 2004. The two victims came from southern provinces, Tien Giang and Dong Thap. The World Health Organization has warned that avian influenza viruses become more active in colder temperatures and the increase in movement of poultry near Lunar New Year may increase the risk of transmission.
Scientists from Netherlands had examined serum samples of poultry workers who had exposed to avian flu outbreak last year and found at least 50% of them had antibody to H7. The seroprevalence of H7 antibodies in people without contact with infected poultry, but with close household contact to an infected poultry worker, was 59%. This suggested that the population at risk for avian influenza was not limited to those with direct contact to infected poultry, and that person to person transmission might have occurred on a large scale.
Guangxi quarantine authority has activated contingency plan of prevention of infectious diseases from animal to prevent the importation of avian influenza from Vietnam. Measures include would 1) closely monitor outbreak situation, 2) make announcement at border control points, 3) increase quarantine inspection of poultry products from Vietnam, 4) increase disinfection of conveyances from Vietnam and 5) strengthen quarantine measures like temperature screening and health declaration forms submission to persons coming from infected areas.
(Source: World Health Organization 13/1/05; Eurosurveillance 6/1/05; Xinhuanet 10/1/05)