Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (30 January 2005)
Health Advisory for Lunar New Year Holidays
The Lunar New Year is coming, and many will travel to the Mainland or overseas. This Service would like to remind the public and the travel industry of the health risks associated with travel, so as to enable travellers enjoy a safe and healthy trip.
Recently, the epidemic of avian influenza in Vietnam is flaring up, and occurring of suspected human-to-human transmission. Although no travel health alert has been issued by the World Health Organization yet, travellers visiting the above countries or other previously affected areas in the region should avoid visiting affected villages, stay away from avian farms, wash hands frequently, and avoid contact with poultries. They should also carry surgical masks and disinfectant wet tissues for health protection. For details, please refer to Prevention of Avian Flu - Health tips for travellers.
Before the Trip
Prevention starts early before the trip. Precautionary measures include:
- Endeavour to understand more the health risks of your destinations and their preventive measures;
- Get vaccinated if indicated;
- Bring along preventive medications and paraphernalia;
- lmmunization course takes time and vaccines may not become effective immediately, one should allow 2 to 4 weeks time for vaccination.
During the Trip
Cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A are common serious food-borne diseases encountered in developing and underdeveloped regions. Travellers should remain vigilance against food borne diseases in tropical areas like Southeast Asia, South Asia:
- Avoid not thoroughly cooked food;
- drink bottled water, avoid iced drinks;
- Do not patronize roadside hawkers.
Respiratory tract diseases like influenza is prevalent in spring. When visiting North Asia and Southeast Asia, travellers should take precautions to prevent respiratory tract infection:
- Adequate rest;
- Balance diet;
- Avoid smoking;
- Avoid crowded places;
- Avoid direct contact with infected persons.
Although it is getting colder in Hong Kong, the risk of mosquito bites decreases. However, risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever exists in Southeast Asia and South Asia all year round. Other preventable mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria and yellow fever, are prevalent especially in Latin America and Africa. Travellers should:
- Be aware of the risk of various mosquito-borne diseases at their destinations;
- Take active measures to prevent mosquito bites;
- Receive vaccination or preventive medications when necessary. Please consult your family doctor or travel health practitioner for advice.
Beware of accidents. In particular, the surge in travellers and traffic volume during spring Festival merits caution.
- Choose reputable companies when joining long distance coach tours;
- Do avoid boarding over-crowded or over-used boats or vehicles;
- For self-drive, do maintain vigilance especially when driving a left-hand-drive vehicle in unfamiliar environment;
- Be careful when participating in high risk activities like white-water rafting, para-gliding, diving, skiing;
- Taking care of yourself and others when playing with fire works and fire crackers.
Other health risks to note:
- In areas endemic of rabies, avoid contact with wild animals or domestic pets.
- In areas with cold climate, prepare enough warm clothing and avoid exhaustion to minimize the risk of getting frostbite or upper respiratory tract infection.
- Avoid unsafe sex. Using condom correctly can lower the chance of getting sexually transmitted diseases. But still the best thing is to avoid promiscuity and never have sex with strangers.
After the Trip
On return, travellers should be aware that there is a chance that they may bring back infections and spread to the community. To minimize the risk, please:
- Seek medical attention if you have diarrhoea, stomach pain, fever or rash after trip;
- Remember to inform doctor your travel history so as to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
Wishing all travellers a happy and healthy trip!
Up to last week, a total of 14 suspected cases of epidemic meningitis disease had been reported from the refugee camps in northern Chad. Five of them were confirmed to be caused by meningococcal bacteria. Vaccination program had been carried out for the refugee camps and surrounding villages since the outbreak.
(Source: ProMED-mail 28/1/05)
An outbreak of trypanosomiasis was reported in Kaberamaido district of Uganda. As of 17 January, 160 people were infected including 10 deaths.
In December last year, an outbreak of trypanosomiasis also occurred in Katakwi district, east of Kaberamaido. This probably implied that the disease was increasing in the northern Uganda.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27/1/05)
[Editor Note: African trypanosomiasis is caused by the bite of an infective tsetse fly. Symptoms include a painful sore at the bite site, fever, intense headache, insomnia, painless enlarged lymph nodes, anemia, local oedema and rash. Later, there is body wasting, somnolence and neurological signs. Travellers to affected areas should use an insect repellent, cover exposed parts of the body, and avoid wearing blue clothing which attracts tsetse flies.]
At least 34 people had died of cholera in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and another 2,152 people had been infected since early January this year. Mixing of sewage with the water supply had contributed to the spread of the disease.
In Kenya, 8 people had died and more than 48 others were admitted following an outbreak of cholera.
(Source: ProMED-mail 27/1/05)
Anhui: Meningococcal meningitis
In Anhui province, 61 cases of meningococcal meningitis with 8 deaths were confirmed recently. Local health officials had been implementing active measures to prevent its spread.
Local expert pointed out that the peak of transmission occurs during winter and spring. Teenagers are the most susceptible group.
(Source: ChinaNews 27/1/05, ChinaYouth News 30/1/05)
[Editor Note: Travellers visiting Anhui province 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.]
Malaysia, Singapore: Dengue fever [update-3]
In Singapore, the first lethal dengue fever case in this year was confirmed last week. In addition, the number of reported cases was doubled in the beginning of this year.
At the same time, more than thirty percent increase in number of dengue cases was also noted in Malaysia.
(Source: Central News Agency 29/1/05)
Thailand (Phangnga): Melioidosis
Phangnga of southern Thailand reported 5 cases of melioidosis. All cases suffered aspiration during the tsunami while 2 of them had diabetes mellitus which was known risk factor for melioidosis. All patients were currently under treatment.
Melioidosis is caused by a bacterium called Burkholderia pseudomallei. The bacterium is present in certain soils and waters. People acquire the infection by inhalation of infected dust, ingestion of affected water, and contact with contaminated soil through skin abrasions. Affected people may develop fever, headache, muscle ache, skin pustule, chest pain and cough.
(Source: ProMED 27/1/05)
Philippines: Meningococcaemia [update-5]
From October 2004 to late January 2005, 98 cases of meningococcal infections were reported in the Philippines: 74 cases occurred in Baguio City, 22 cases in Mountain Province, and 2 in Ifugao area, with 32 deaths. Besides, during the first month of 2005, 14 suspected cases and 3 confirmed cases were reported in the Benguet Province.
After 10 days of zero suspected or confirmed case of meningococcaemia in Baguio City, the meningococcaemia alert was stand-down on 25 January by the local health authority. However, the alert remained effective in both Benguet Province and the nearby Mountain Province due to the increasing cases.
(Source: Central News Agency 25/1/05, ProMED-mail 28/1/05)
Indonesia: Dengue fever [update-2]
Health official said the number of dengue fever cases in Jakarta jumped from about 200 cases to 400 cases within one week, and the total number of cases since December was about 800, while two patients had died.
(Source: Jakarta Post 24/1/05)
An outbreak of dysentery occurred in East Nusa Tenggara of Indonesia, resulting in 959 infected, 22 of them were critically ill and at least 17 died. The outbreak was caused by drinking untreated or polluted water in the area.
(Source: Singpao 27/01/05)
Thousands of refugees in flood-hit areas in Sumatra had contracted serious diseases because of inadequate shelter and a lack of clean water. In Lampung, about 6,500 people were recorded to be suffering from dysentery, cholera and skin rashes. An outbreak of dysentery had killed at least 20 people and affected hundreds of others in eastern Flores and Adonara.
(Source: ProMED mail 28/1/05)
Southeast Asia: Avian Influenza [update-22]
Vietnam health officials had reported 3 more people from northern region of the country, Hanoi city, Hung Yen province and Phu Tho province, infected with avian influenza virus, making a total of 16 since December last year. Nine of them were fatal. One of the cases was a 13 year old girl from southern Dong Thap province. Her mother also died of avian flu last week.
In addition, a Cambodian woman suspected of having avian influenza was seriously ill in a hospital in southern Viet Nam, and tests were under way to test for the virus. It will be the first human case in Cambodia if the result is positive for the virus.
Vietnam tourism department has asked tour agents to stop bringing visitors to areas with high risk of avian virus infection. In Hong Kong, a microbiologist advised people not to go to high risk areas in Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar because the reported cases might be just tip of the iceberg. Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, HKSAR also advised people to avoid going to villages in Vietnam.
Medical scientists had reported that probable person-to-person transmission of avian influenza A(H5N1) was identified in Thailand in one cluster of 3 cases late last year.
(Source: World Health Organization 28/1/05; ProMEDmail 28/1/05, 29/1/05; Central News Agency 26/1/05; New England Journal of Medicine 27/1/05)