Current Travel Health Alerts

AUSTRALIA: Alarming rise in deadly Melioidosis; Rise in measles

Cases of melioidosis, a potentially fatal bacterial disease found in soil, continue to rise alarmingly in the Northern Territory. Doctors warn the Top End is now seeing an average 90 cases and 10 deaths a year. Read more.

MEASLES is spreading in the Cambelltown district of Sydney, with 10 of the 40 confirmed cases requiring hospital treatment. Health authorities said the outbreak was 'imported' from Thailand and most of those affected are infants under 12 months, or unvaccinated primary and high school students of Pacific Islander descent. Read more.

Advice to travellers: Melioidosis mainly occurs in tropical climates, especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia, where it is endemic. The bacteria (Burkholderia pseudomallei) that cause melioidosis are found in contaminated water and soil. Wear shoes or boots (not thongs) and avoid direct contact with soil and standing water, especially if you have open skin wounds. People with diabetes or chronic renal disease are at higher risk of infection. Read more on melioidosis.

 

BRAZIL: Four states battle dengue

Dengue outbreaks were reported from the states of Para (9419 cases, 3 deaths), Ceara (874, 26), Maranhao, and Mato Grosso do Sul. Read more (ProMED Alerts, August 13.)

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. There is no vaccine for dengue.

 

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC: Ebola suspected; Cholera hits camp

Five suspected cases of Ebola virus have been detected in Isiro, the chief town in the Haut Uele district of north-eastern Orientale Province. The province is adjacent to the Ebola-infected region of Uganda, although no link has been confirmed, nor the disease identified. Read more.

CHOLERA has struck at a camp for displaced person near Goma, killing 10. Eastern Congo saw 18 552 cholera cases in 2011, resulting in 232 deaths. Read more.

 

COTE d'IVOIRE: Cholera confirmed

An outbreak of cholera has been confirmed in Assinze, a village in the Tiassale Department that is home to 1500 people. Read more (ProMED Alert, August 14).

 

COLOMBIA: Huila, Neiva dengue hotspots

More than 5000 cases of dengue have been recorded this year, with the highest incidence in Huila Department (state). The city of Neiva has recorded 2557 cases, along with 84 of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Read more (ProMED Alerts, August 13.)

 

CUBA: Makeshift dengue hospital set up

Dengue continues to spread on the island. More than 400 people have been hospital in Camaguey, forcing authorities to set up a makeshift ward in a school. Around 280 patients have been admitted to Amalia Simoni Provincial Hospital for treatment. Read more (ProMED Alerts, August 13.) 

 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Santiago hit by dengue

There have been more than 70 cases of dengue reported in the northwest, including Valverde Province and other areas. Outbreaks are occurring in the city of Santiago, and the towns of Mao, Montecristi, Dajabon and others in the Cibao region. Read more.

 

EL SALVADOR: Red alert over dengue

The government is considering a red alert for 34 municipalities affected by dengue, with San Salvador, La Libertad, Santa Ana, and San Miguel hardest hit. There have been 2 deaths. Read more (ProMED Alerts, August 13.) 

 

GREECE: Third West Nile death

West Nile virus has killed 3 people in the past month, with 44 others infected. Most cases were reported in the eastern and southern suburbs of Athens, and near the northern town of Naoussa. Read more (ProMED Alerts, August 10.)

Advice to travellers: West Nile virus generally causes only mild flu-like symptoms but can cause potentially fatal meningitis or encephalitis, especially among the elderly. It has recently been linked with kidney disease in patients who had recovered from the disease. Take all measures to avoid mosquito bites.

 

GUINEA: Cholera toll rises

An outbreak of cholera that has infected 2054 people and killed 60 since February shows no sign of letting up. Read more.

 

HONDURAS: Dengue numbers rise

Tegucigalpa is reporting most dengue activity, with 42 cases of classic dengue and 2 suspected cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). San Pedro Sula (Cortes Department) is experiencing an epidemic, recording 1417 cases through July – almost double the number recorded in the same period last year. Choloma has had 187 of Cortez Department's 300 cases. Read more. (ProMED Alerts, August 13.) 

 

INDIA: Monsoon brings malaria, dengue; Gastro suspected

Monsoon rains are bringing more dengue and malaria to the city of Pune (Mararashtra State). Read more.

IN HYDERABAD (Andhra Pradesh State), recent heavy rain has resulted in up to 10 new malaria cases each day. There have been 184 cases this year. Read more.

HEALTH officials have sounded a warning after 3 recent malaria deaths in the Jamshedpur district of Jharkhand (Rajasthan State). Read more.

IN THE past week, almost 150 cases of dengue have been reported in West Bengal's capital, Kolkata and surrounding districts. Read more.

IN CENTRAL Jammu-Kashmir State, contaminated drinking water has led to an outbreak of suspected gastroenteritis. Hundreds are sick in the village of Chadoora and surrounding areas. Read more.

Advice to travellers: The monsoon is driving many of the outbreaks reported this week in India, highlighting the need to take extra precautions to avoid potential food-, water- and insect-borne diseases during the rainy season. Malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and Chikungunya fever are common throughout India, especially during and just after the monsoon. Whether you are travelling in urban or rural areas – including major cities - consider taking anti-malaria medication. Travelvax also recommends using an effective insect repellent at all times outdoors, and taking measures to avoid mosquito bites.

 

INDONESIA: Bird flu death in Yogyakarta

A recent death from A(H5N1) influenza of a man in Yogyakarta Province was the eighth this year. The man kept pet caged birds and lived near a poultry slaughterhouse. Read more.

Advice to travellers: 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.

 

MALAYSIA: Dengue up 11%; Cholera rising in Bintalu

Nine states reported dengue cases last week, with 371 cases reported nationwide. There have been 13,533 cases to August 4 – 11% higher than last year. Read more.

IN BORNEO, new cholera cases continue to be reported in Bintulu. A contaminated local water source is thought to be the source of 734 confirmed or suspected cases of the disease. Read more.

 

MEXICO: Dengue linked to migrants

Heading the national dengue count again this week is Yucatan State (1907 cases), followed by Veracruz (1880), Chiapas (1358); Guerrero (991), Campeche (842), Tabasco (791), Oaxaca (644); Morelos (597), and Quintana Roo (440). There have been 7593 cases reported, along with 3617 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) – mainly serotypes 1 and 2, but 18 cases of type 4. ProMED reports on outbreaks in Cancun (Quintana Roo State), Oluta (Veracruz), Sinaloa State, Tamaulipas State. Dengue outbreaks are being linked to undocumented immigrants heading for the USA from Central America. Read more (ProMED Alert, August 14).

 

NEPAL: Cholera count rising in Kathmandu

There have been 15 cholera cases in the Kathmandu district since the onset of the monsoon. None were fatal, but they follow 13 deaths from the disease in two months in the Doti district of western Nepal. Read more.

Advice to travellers: Nepal is nearing the height of its monsoon season, when cholera and gastro illnesses normally spike because of contaminated water sources. For most short-stay travellers, the risk of cholera is low. However, care in the selection of food and water is essential. Travelvax Australia's travel health professionals can provide further advice on whether you should consider vaccination for your particular itinerary. Call 1300 360 164 - ideally 4- 6 weeks before departure.

 

NIGERIA: Measles' mounting toll

There were 7648 cases and 102 deaths from measles in the first seven months, according to the Ministry of Health. Read more (ProMED Alert, August 12)

Advice to travellers: Measles continues to reach new areas of the world, including developing and developed countries. If you have not had measles or have not received two documented doses of live virus vaccine, consider having a booster as part of your pre-travel vaccination regime – regardless of your destination. We also advise that you check your immunisation status for childhood diseases such as whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps, and polio.

 

PAKISTAN: Measles wracks province; Fatal cholera in Takeel

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, 4048 measles cases have been reported in the first five months. Read more.

ALSO IN Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cholera from a contaminated spring has killed one man and hospitalised dozens of villagers in Takeel, a village in the Swabi district. Read more.

 

PERU: San Martin on dengue red alert

A red alert has been declared in the San Martin region after the seventh death from dengue this year. Most of the 683 cases have been recorded in Juanjui, Tarapoto, and Shilcayo. Read more. (ProMED alerts, August 13.) 

SIERRA LEONE: Cholera reaches Kenema

A widespread cholera outbreak is taking a heavy toll in the Western Area, where a third of the 105 deaths from 1964 cases have been recorded in the 5 weeks to July 31. Read more.

MEANWHILE, cholera has spread from the capital, Freetown to Kenema, with 11 people hospitalised in the past week. Read more.

 

SRI LANKA: Dengue deaths still rising

Dengue has now infected 18,111 people and claimed 82 lives to August 9. Read more.

 

TAIWAN: More dengue in Tainan, Kaohsiung

Twelve new cases of indigenous dengue fever were reported in the southern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung last week, bringing to 71 the total number since May, the CDC reports. Read more.

 

UNITED KINGDOM: No end to measles in Merseyside, Sussex

The number of measles cases in the north has now reached 440, with another 173 suspected – the majority in Merseyside and district. Read more.

New measles outbreaks have also been confirmed in Sussex, adding to the 314 cases this year. Read more.

 

USA: Dallas declares West Nile emergency; EEE in Massachusetts; Typhus in Long Beach

In Texas, Dallas County has declared a public health emergency over its West Nile virus epidemic. Following 12 deaths and 249 cases in Dallas and Tarrant counties, authorities have begun conducting aerial spraying to control mosquito numbers. Read more.

IN MASSACHUSETTS, a man has been diagnosed with mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), although he may has been infected outside the state. Read more.

LOS ANGELES county health officials have warned flea-borne typhus is on the rise in Long Beach, where it was unknown before 2006. There have been 11 cases this year. Read more.

 

VIETNAM: Dengue, bird flu in spotlight; Conjunctivitis spreads in Hanoi

Just as the number of recent hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases begins to fall, dengue has again come to the fore – especially in the south. There were 65,361 HFMD infections (29 deaths) in the first 7 months, 80% of them the more dangerous EV-71 strain. There were 26,000 dengue cases and 30 deaths in the first 6 months – almost 5000 (3 deaths) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Health Ministry reports. Read more.

SCORES of families have sought treatment at Hanoi's public eye clinic following an outbreak of conjunctivitis in the city. The viral disease peaks in August's humid weather. Read more.