Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (23 January 2005)
Democratic Republic of Congo: Typhoid fever [update]
From late September last year to mid January, WHO had received reports of over 40,000 cases and 200 deaths of typhoid fever in its capital Kinshasa. Poor sanitary conditions and lack of clean drinking water were the main contributing factors of the outbreak.
(Source: World Health Organization 19/1/05)
In Burundi, 64 cholera cases and 4 death cases were detected in Kamenge district last week.
In Nigeria, cholera outbreak was detected in 7 states with 2807 cholera cases recorded. The unavailability of clean water was the main reason for the outbreak.
(Source: ProMED-mail 19/1/05)
Africa: tourist contracted Malaria
A confirmed case of imported malignant malaria was reported to the Department of Health recently. The patient was a US visitor who had travelled to Tanzania and Kenya in late December last year, and was currently in critical condition.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 17/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers visiting malaria areas should adopt anti-mosquito measures for health protections. They should consider taking anti-malarial medical prophylaxis and seek advice from travel health practitioners.]
Malaysia, Singapore: Dengue fever [update-2]
Malaysia Health Minister announced a doubling in dengue fever cases to 1,000 last month, with the increase especially noticeable in Kuala Lumpur. The dengue outbreak, initially confined to Selangor, Federal Territory, Penang and Pahang, was spreading to Kedah, Malacca, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.
In Singapore, health authorities recorded more than 8,500 dengue cases in 2004, which was a 10-year high and almost doubled the number in 2003.
(Source: Borneo Bulletin 17/1/05)
Three tourists and 8 local people had contracted melioidosis after heavy rain in the northern region of Australia since Christmas. All 11 patients required hospital treatment while the 3 tourists were in serious conditions.
(Source: ProMED-mail 16/1/05)
[Editor Note: Melioidosis is an infectious disease with clinical features including severe chills, fever, cough, blood sputum, diarrhea, hemorrhagic spots. Transmission mainly through contaminated skin wound by soil and water, or through inhalation or ingestion of contaminated sources. Travellers should avoid contact with soil and standing water. Wearing boots can also prevent infection through the feet and calf.]
Taiwan: Dengue fever [update-20]
Dengue fever is still prevailing in Pingdong County with several cases reported every week. Taiwan’s Department of Health has begun epidemiological study on dengue virus.
(Source: Central News Agency 18/1/05)
[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.]
Indonesia: HK domestic helper contracted malaria
One imported case of malaria was reported by the Department of Health.
The patient was a HK Indonesian domestic helper who traveled back to her home town in Indonesia from early December last year to January this year. She developed fever, chills and rigor with nausea and malaise 6 days after returning back to HK. She was diagnosed with P. vivax malaria infection in a HK hospital with stable condition.
(Source: Department of Health, HKSAR 18/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers visiting malaria areas should adopt anti-mosquito measures for health protections. They should consider taking anti-malarial medical prophylaxis and seek advice from travel health practitioners.]
Philippines: Meningococcaemia [update-4]
From October last year to mid-January this year, a total of 38 cases of meningococcal disease and 18 deaths have been reported from Baguio City, and a total of 40 cases and 12 deaths have been reported from the Cordillera Region, excluding Baguio City. The number of weekly new cases has decreased.
New meningococcaemia confirmed case has been reported in Benguet Province and 4 cases of meningococcaemia have been isolated in southern Mindanao Island.
(Source: World Health Organization 19/1/05, Central News Agency 20/1/05, Taiwan CDC 21/1/05)
[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.]
Indonesia: 67 cases of tetanus had been reported in Aceh: 45 in Banda Aceh, 15 in Meulaboh and 6 in Sigli.
People were infected when searching for corpses and useful objects in the rubble left by the tsunami.
No outbreaks had been detected at disaster relief centers in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
(Source: ProMED-mail 23/1/05)
Southeast Asia: Avian Influenza [update-21]
The Vietnamese health authorities confirmed that an adult hospitalised in Hanoi had tested positive for avian influenza, making it the first case in the capital. His elder brother, resident of Thai Binh Province, died earlier of pneumonia and confirmed H5 avian influenza infection. As the Hanoi patient had provided bedside care for his brother, the case has raised concerns about possible human-to-human transmission of the virus. This family had also bought ducks from market and drank raw duck blood. Public health officials have repeatedly advised against the consumption of dishes made with fresh duck blood or with raw or inadequately cooked poultry products. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that poultry should be cooked until all parts reach an internal temperature of 70oC, or that the meat is not pink.
For the past 3 weeks, 9 had died from avian influenza in Viet Nam, most of them from the south of the country. WHO is worried infection could spread rapidly with the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, as chicken is the centerpiece of meals during the festivities. WHO does not at present recommend any restrictions on travel to Vietnam.
In Thailand, scientists found avian flu virus in 20 fighting cocks in the eastern province of Rayong. Officials claimed that the cocks had been infected by wild birds.
(Source: World Health Organization 21/1/05; Xinhuanet 21/1/05)