Current Travel Health News
Travel Health News Digest (8 December 2008)
Hong Kong: Avian Influenza, poultry
In response to the recent poultry outbreak caused by Avian Influenza in a farm in Yuen Long, the Hong Kong SAR Government has activated the Serious Response Level of the Government's Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic on 9 December 2008 and has instituted a series of measures to control the spread of the outbreak.
(Source: Department of Health HKSAR 9 December 2008)
The recent report of Ministry of Health indicated that 892 confirmed Cholera cases including 11 deaths were registered in Iraq as of 27 November 2008.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 December 2008)
In Guatemala, 200 people were infected in an outbreak of Malaria in Chiquimula.
(Source: ProMED-mail 1 December 2008)
Bosnia/Herzegovina: Brucellosis [update 2]
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were 757 cases of Brucellosis this year, almost a 100-percent increase when compared with last year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 3 December 2008)
Since mid-October this year, there were 36 suspected cases of Food Poisoning caused by Salmonella in New Zealand, with 16 of them in Canterbury. The food source of this disease outbreak was still being investigated.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4 December 2008)
In Indonesia, there were 4 fatal cases of suspected Rabies in Bali.
(Source: ProMED-mail 4 December 2008)
Norway: Avian Influenza, poultry
In Norway, an outbreak of low pathogenic Avian Influenza was reported in Ostfold. All 50 birds were culled.
(Source: World Organisation for Animal Health 5 December 2008)
In Vietnam, more than 78 500 Dengue Fever cases with 79 deaths were recorded so far this year. Both Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi were affected.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 December 2008)
Dominican Republic: Dengue Fever
In Dominican Republic, 3 623 Dengue Fever cases with 30 deaths were registered so far this year.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 December 2008)
In India, 29 cases of malignant Malaria were reported in Chandigarh.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 December 2008)
In Pakistan, 1 219 cases of Dengue Fever were reported in Punjab, among which 1 149 cases were in the city of Lahore.
(Source: ProMED-mail 7 December 2008)
In Zimbabwe, 9 of 10 provinces were affected by the ongoing outbreak of Cholera. Budiriro in Harare and the country border Beitbridge were most seriously affected. A total of 13 960 cases of Cholera with 589 deaths were reported since August this year.
The neighbouring countries South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique were also affected by this outbreak.
(Source: World Health Organisation 2 December 2008 and ProMED-mail 3 and 8 December 2008)