Current Travel Health Alerts

AUSTRALIA: Measles in Sydney's south west

Measles has infected 19 people in south-western Sydney. Most cases have been among unimmunised teens and young children, including 5 infants. Read more.

Advice to travellers: With outbreaks continuing abroad, measles remains a risk for vulnerable travellers. However, domestic outbreaks highlight the risk of infection at home, too. Australian travellers who have not had measles or have not received two documented doses of live virus vaccine should consider a booster as part of their pre-travel vaccination regime – regardless of their destination. We advise all travellers to also check their immunisation status for other childhood diseases such as whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps, and polio.

 

BOTSWANA: Rotavirus outbreaks kills 4

Rotavirus has killed 4 infants and infected 151 people in Phikwe, a mining town in the north east. Read more.

Advice to travellers: Rotavirus is a common food- and water-borne disease in developed and developing countries. In most cases, serious illness or death from acute diarrhoea and cholera are the result of severe dehydration and fluid loss. Include sachets of oral rehydration powder in your first-aid kit in the event of acute diarrhoea during travel. Seek medical advice if diarrhoea persists for more than 24 hours.

 

BRAZIL: Tick disease in Nova Odessa; Dengue in Bahia, Sao Paulo, Sergipe

A case of tick-borne Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever has been diagnosed in the city of Nova Odessa (Sao Paulo State). Read more (ProMED alert, July 24). 

Bahia state has now recorded 58,000 dengue cases, the highest number from Salvador (6442), Itabuna (5700) and Ilheus (2346). In Sao Paulo, Rio Claro municipality registered 212 dengue cases in the first week of July, bringing the year's total to 1032. Aracaju, the capital of Sergipe State, recorded nearly 1400 cases in the first 6 months of 2012, with 33 neighbourhoods reporting outbreaks. Read more. (ProMED Alert, July 21)

Advice to travellers: Because dengue fever is transmitted by urban-breeding mosquitoes that mainly bite during daylight hours, it is a risk for most travellers visiting cities and town in tropical countries. Take measures to avoid all insect bites: Cover up when mosquitoes are biting, and apply repellent containing an active ingredient, such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus when outdoors.

 

CAMBODIA: Dengue death toll now 60

There were 15,597 dengue cases and 60 deaths in the first 6 months of 2012 – a 239% rise from 4604 cases in the same period last year. The government reports the worst effected provinces are Banteay Meanchey (14 deaths), Siem Reap (7) deaths, and Kampong Thom (6). The peak dengue season continues until September and it's feared continuing heavy rains will add to the toll. Read more.

 

CUBA: Dengue now a year-round risk

The summer cycle of dengue has been replaced with year-round transmission, according to local experts. This year the island has recorded 5 outbreaks, with 5 fatalities and hundreds of people hospitalised. Read more. (ProMED Alert, July 21)

 

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Cholera spreading rapidly

Cholera is spreading rapidly in North Kivu province, with hundreds of new cases in recent weeks. The outbreak is centred on the Birambizo, Goma, Karisimbi, Kiroshe, Mutwanga, Mweso and Rwanguba districts. Armed conflict in the province is hampering treatment efforts and raising fears the outbreak will spill into neighbouring Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda. Read more.

 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Rise in DHF cases

The number of dengue cases has now reached 1273 this year, including 53 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and 4 deaths. Read more. (ProMED Alert, July 21)

 

EL SALVADOR: Dengue surges

263 new dengue cases have been registered in past week, with Soyapango and Ilopango municipalities the hardest hit. Read more. (ProMED Alert, July 21)

 

GUATEMALA: National dengue alert after fatalities

Four recent dengue haemorrhagic fever-related (DHF) deaths have prompted a nationwide alert. They are among 26 confirmed DHF fatalities and 1186 confirmed or suspected cases of classic dengue. Read more.

 

INDIA: Cholera, diarrhoea spreading in Chennai; Deadly tick disease kills 7
An outbreak of cholera and acute diarrhoea is spreading in Tondiarpet, a suburban area of Chennai (Tamil Nadu). Read more.

IN GUJARAT State, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) has killed 7 people and infected 18 others. Read more.

ALSO IN GUJARAT, a deadly type of leptospirosis has emerged in southern areas of the state. There have been 3 deaths and 24 cases since mid-June.

Advice to travellers: Now considered endemic in northern India, this tick-borne disease mainly affects animals and rare outbreaks present a low risk for travellers. However, they highlight the need to use an effective personal insect repellent and to take measures to avoid ticks and all biting insects.

 

INDONESIA: Rabies – a tale of 2 islands

Rabies has claimed a fifth victim of the year last week, a 55-year-old man in Gianyar Regency who was bitten on the foot two years earlier. It is the longest recorded incubation period for the disease since it reached the island in 2008. There have since been 144 official rabies deaths. Read more.

In contrast, rabies remains widespread on the island of Flores (East Nusa Tenggara) (NTT). The disease has reached central Maumere, the capital of Sikka Regency and the largest city on Flores Island. Read more.

Advice to travellers: With Bali's canine rabies vaccination program reportedly 70% complete (around 300,000 dogs), the risk of exposure is greatly reduced, but not eliminated. The report from Flores confirms the disease remains a significant risk on other Indonesian islands, including those visited by tourists.

 

MALI: Cholera outbreak kills 6

In the eastern Gao region, cholera has killed 6 children and infected 56 people in the past 10 days in Wabaria, Labbezanga and Ansongo, three towns on the Niger River. UNICEF has responded with emergency aid. Read more.

 

MEXICO: Dengue epidemic in Morelos State

Four states have dengue outbreaks. Morelos reported 519 cases last week, including 107 of the dengue haemorrhagic type. In Tamaulipas, there were 54 cases in the Tampico and Madero municipalities, Michoacan has had just 7 dengue cases this year, while Veracruz has had 3-fold rise on last year's total. Read more. (ProMED Alert, July 21).

 

NEPAL: Diarrhoea hits village

An outbreak of diarrhoea, possibly caused by infected meat, left 200 people ill in Shikharbesi, a village in central Nepal last week. Read more.

 

NIGER: Cholera descends on refugees

A seven month-long cholera outbreak that has infected almost 3000 people and killed 58 has now reached a camp housing refugees from Mali. Read more.

 

NIGERIA: Measles toll passes 100

Measles has claimed 102 lives among more than 7800 confirmed or suspected cases in the first 6 months this year. There have been outbreaks in14 states. Read more. (ProMED Alert, July 23).

IN THE southwest, a cholera outbreak in Igbaraodo-Ekiti (Ekiti State) has killed 2 people. Read more.

 

PHILIPPINES: Western Visayas tackles measles; Dengue rising on Mindanao

Measles cases in Bacolod (Western Visayas) have now reached 51 for the year, promoting a regional vaccination campaign. Read more.

DENGUE numbers have risen sharply in Maguindanao and parts of Central Mindanao in recent weeks. There have been 15 deaths among 52 cases to date this year. Read more.

IN THE Cordillera region, 3 deaths and 1440 dengue cases have now been recorded in 2012 – up 30% on last year. Read more.

 

RUSSIA: Measles finds fertile ground

Measles has surfaced in the Leninsky district of Astrakhan oblast, where immunisation rates are well below optimal levels. Read more. (ProMED Alert, July 23)

 

SIERRA LEONE: Yellow fever, Lassa; Cholera, Chikungunya

The country is battling four outbreaks: Yellow fever in the Pujehun District; Lassa fever in Kenema District; Cholera (3800 cases, 66 deaths) in the Port Loko, Kambia, Pujehun, and Kailahun districts and the Western Area; and, Chikungunya virus in the city of Bo, which has returned after an absence of 34 years. Read more. Meanwhile, cholera has reached Freetown, with the densely populated capital recording more than 400 cases and 9 deaths in recent weeks. Read more.

 

UNITED KINGDOM: Record measles in north

The Merseyside measles outbreak involving 359 confirmed and 157 probable cases in the first six months is now the largest since 1996. One-in-4 cases have been children too young to be vaccinated. Read more.

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: West Nile cases in LA; Measles in Arizona

In California, Los Angeles County has recorded its first human infection of West Nile fever (WNV) this year. Read more.

A CHILD has contracted measles in fFlagstaff, Arizona. Read more.

Advice to travellers: West Nile virus generally causes only mild flu-like symptoms but has recently been linked with kidney disease in patients who had recovered from the disease. The virus can cause potentially fatal meningitis or encephalitis, with a higher risk of more serious illness among elderly patients. Travellers are recommended to avoid mosquito bites.

 

VIETNAM: 16 dead in rabies epidemic; Bird flu outbreaks

Rabies has killed 16 people and 130 others are reported to be infected following epidemics in the mountainous northern provinces of Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai. Read more.

THE LATEST figures on the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemic show it has reached 63 provinces, infecting 57,800 people and leaving 29 dead – mostly children – this year. The government is working with the WHO to control the outbreak. Read more.

FOUR H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks have occurred – 3 in Quang Binh province in central Vietnam and one in the northern province of Hai Duong. More than 16,500 poultry birds died, or were destroyed to prevent further transmission. Read more.

Advice to travellers: Advice to travellers: Rabies is highly endemic throughout Asia. While the risk for short-stay visitors is generally low, it increases for those planning longer stays – especially for children. Travellers should avoid contact with wild and domestic animals, and seek urgent post-exposure treatment if bitten. Similarly, while bird flu virus is often fatal, it poses a low risk for most travellers. If you are travelling to regions where outbreaks occur, wash your hands before and after preparing food and maintain high levels of personal hygiene. Read more on bird flu and how to avoid it.