Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (29 May 2005)
In Cordoba of Argentina, Ministry of Health reported that 5 persons died between February and April this year because of viral encephalitis, transmitted by Culex mosquitoes.(Source: ProMED-mail 28 May 2005) [Editor Note: Encephalitis is a rare disease with fever and cerebral inflammation. Severe cases may result in neurological sequelae and even death. Travellers should adopt anti-mosquito measures.]
Democratic Republic of Congo: Ebola hemorrhagic fever [update-2]
As of late May, a total of 12 Ebola hemorrhagic fever cases, including 9 deaths, had been reported in Etoumbi and Mbomo of Democratic Republic of Congo. The authority was following up 71 contacts and raising the awareness about the disease among the population in the affected districts.
(Source: World Health Organization 25 May 2005)
Angola: Marburg hemorrhagic fever [update-9]
The World Health Organization reported that the number of new cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Angola had declined in the past few days, but the condition was still not under control. As of 26 May, there were a total of 399 confirmed or suspected cases in Uige, including 335 deaths.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27 May 2005)
Thailand (Phuket): Dengue fever
Phuket’s public health official reported that there were currently 68 confirmed cases of dengue fever on the island, which was more than twice the number it had last year. There were another 340 suspected cases but no death case yet. The health authority launched a campaign to eliminate mosquitoes responsible for spreading dengue fever.
(Source: ASEAN Diseases Surveillance 25 May 2005)
In Indonesia , officials said that 14 poliomyelitis cases had been detected. Eleven cases were detected in the villages of West Java area, one case in the district of Bogor (just south of Jakarta) while 2 other in Banten province. Indonesian government started vaccinations in concerned areas and intensified surveillance measures.
(Source: ProMED-mail 25 May 2005)
As of mid-May, over 5,500 people suffered from dengue fever in West Java of Indonesia this year and 101 people died.
(Source: ASEAN Disease Surveillance 25 May 2005)
Asia: Avian influenza [update-38]
In Vietnam, a man from Hung Yen Province, about 40km west of Ha Noi, died of avian influenza on 19 May. Two more people, one from central Thanh Hoa Province and the other from northern Vinh Phuc Province were tested positive for avian influenza. Since 2003, 78 cases and 38 deaths from avian influenza had been reported in Vietnam. Mainland is on high alert against H5N1 avian influenza after discovering that it was responsible for the deaths of over 500 wild birds of different species reported in early May 2005 in the remote Bird Island located in Qinghai Hu. The affected areas were isolated to prevent human or domestic fowl from catching the disease.
(Source: ASEAN Disease Surveillance 23 May 2005, ProMED-mail 22, 23, 25-28 May 2005)
[Editor Note: Qinghai Hu located at 3,200 meters above sea level, it is the largest inland salty lake in China. Travellers should avoid visiting affected areas, wash hands frequently, and avoid contact with poultries. For details, please refer to Prevention of Avian Flu - Health tips for travellers.]