Current Travel Health Alerts

AUSTRALIA: Bat bite victims get rabies shots

In Canberra, several people bitten while trying to assist injured bats have had to receive post-exposure treatment for rabies in case they were exposed to Australian Bat Lyssavirus, a virus from the same family as rabies. Read more.

 

CANADA: New Legionnaires' death

Legionnaires' disease has claimed a twelfth victim in Quebec City this week, although the outbreak appears to be over after 176 people were infected.

 

CENTRAL AMERICA: Dengue cases rising

ProMED carries reports of increasing numbers of dengue cases from Honduras, where San Pedro Sula is worst affected (2541 cases), and El Salvador (6634). In Panama, Panama City has now recorded more than 200 confirmed and suspected cases of the disease. Read more (Translated ProMED alert, Sept 10). 

Advice to travellers: The mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus inhabit all urban areas – from upmarket hotels and resorts, to budget accommodation. They bite during the daylight hours. Travellers should take measures to avoid all insect bites when visiting tropical regions of Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific – including northern Australia. Travelvax recommends applying an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to all exposed skin when outdoors.

 

CONGO: Ebola toll now 15

Authorities say the traditional practice of washing corpses before funerals is helping to spread Ebola virus, which has now claimed 15 lives in the last month. This is Congo's ninth Ebola outbreak; the first in north-eastern Haut-Uélé territory. Read more.

 

FRANCE: Hepatitis A linked to restaurant

A restaurant in the city of Le Mans is the likely source of 7 cases of Hepatitis A – part of a cluster of 12 infections in the Pays de la Loire region. Read more (Translated ProMED alert, Sept 5). 

Advice to travellers: Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease spread mainly through contaminated food and water. Relatively rare in France, it is very common in many developing countries. Infected children under 6 years do not usually experience noticeable symptoms, however older children and adults can experience more severe symptoms. Highly effective vaccines for Hep A and Hep A-B are available to protect travellers, who should also follow guidelines for safe food and water.

 

GHANA: Malaria numbers drop

Targeted programs have helped to ease the burden of malaria this year. There were 242,991 cases in the West African country in the first six months, compared with 344, 591 for the same period last year. Read more.

Advice to travellers: The more severe P. falciparum strain of malaria is widespread in both urban and regional areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Infected female anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria, and feed between sunset and sunrise. We strongly recommend malaria prevention medication for most travel to the region. Travellers should also cover up and apply an insect repellent containing DEET (30-50%), Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus at all times when outdoors.

 

INDIA: Diphtheria kills 5 kids; Leptospirosis, shrub typhus deaths

Diphtheria has killed 5 children and more than 500 are being treated in Haryana state. The outbreak has occurred in the shanty areas of Davar Colony and Ashok Vihar. Read more.

THREE farm labourers have died in an outbreak of leptospirosis in Surat (Gujarat State) – the latest of 10 deaths from the parasitic disease this year. Read more.

IN HIMACHAL Pradesh State, 2 people have died of scrub typhus, a disease transmitted by infected mites. Read more.

ANOTHER child died from encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh this week, taking the toll to 275 from an estimated 1650 cases to date. A steady stream of young patients continues to be admitted to local hospitals.

Advice to travellers: Travelvax recommends travellers check their immunisation status for childhood diseases such as diphtheria, measles, whooping cough (pertussis), mumps, and polio 6 weeks before departure.

 

MALAWI: Chickenpox delays opening of schools

An outbreak of chickenpox in the border district of Mwanza has delayed the start of the new school term. Doctors are treating 100 cases, mainly children. Read more.

 

MEXICO: Multi-state dengue outbreaks

Dengue outbreaks continue to spread, with 18,106 cases and 23 deaths now recorded, including 6188 severe infections. This week's dengue bulletin features reports from the following states: Guerrero, Mexico, Jalisco, Morelos, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, and Yucatan. Read more (Translated ProMED alert, Sept 10). 

 

NEPAL: Doti's dual outbreaks spreading

Dual outbreaks of an unnamed 'viral fever' and typhoid continue to spread in the Doti district, with an average 15 people seeking treatment each day last week. Read more.

Advice to travellers: Monsoon rains are likely to bring more typhoid, cholera and gastro illnesses. Vaccination may be recommended for some travellers, especially those arriving in Nepal in coming weeks. Call Travelvax Australia on 1300 360 164 for advice on whether you should consider vaccination.

 

NIGERIA: Lagos on alert for Lassa; Polio tally reaches 77

Cases of rat-borne Lassa fever in some areas of the country have prompted warnings that the disease could spread to the capital, Lagos. Read more.

A new case of wild poliovirus has been recorded in Wuru, a village in the Gassol district of Taraba State, 5 years after the state was declared polio free. There have now been 77 cases of polio across 10 states this year. Read more.

Advice to travellers: Lassa fever is an acute viral illness that occurs in West Africa, notably in Nigeria, Guinea, and Liberia. As many as 300,000 cases and 5000 deaths occur each year. However, Lassa is a remote risk for travellers. Rodents shed the virus in urine and droppings and it is spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of an infected person. Read more about Lassa fever.

 

PHILIPPINES: Hep A hits school

The school canteen may be responsible for 19 recent cases of hepatitis A among students of Lourdes High School in the Barangay (district) of Poblacion. A team from the National Epidemiology Center in Manila is investigating. Read more.

 

SERBIA: West Nile claims 3, 35 infected

The toll from West Nile virus has risen to 3, with 35 people infected. All three victims were elderly and had underlying medical conditions, while those infected were all over 50. Read more.

Advice to travellers: West Nile virus generally causes only mild flu-like symptoms but can cause potentially fatal meningitis or encephalitis in older people, especially the elderly. It has recently been linked with kidney disease in patients who had recovered from the disease. Travellers visiting areas where cases have occurred should take measures to avoid mosquito bites.

 

SOUTH AFRICA: Scarlet fever hits schools

In Johannesburg, there have been 3 confirmed and 4 suspected cases of scarlet fever in several primary schools in the city.

Advice to travellers: Scarlet fever is an uncommon bacterial infection that mainly affects children and is a low risk to travellers. The illness is generally mild and treated with antibiotics. Serious complications are rare.

 

SOUTH AMERICA: Rising dengue rates

Dengue outbreaks continue to be reported this week, notably from Venezuela (Tachira State), Brazil (Mato Grosso, Paraiba, and Parana states), and Paraguay. Read more (Translated ProMED alert, Sept 10). 

 

SUDAN: WHO tackles leishmaniasis

The sand fly-borne disease, leishmaniasis has descended on Unity State, killing 1 and infecting 200. The WHO has sent treatment drugs to Koch County to help treat victims, but a shortage of medical personnel and hospital beds is hampering efforts. Read more.

Advice to travellers: Leishmaniasis is spread by sand flies and is widespread in the tropics, subtropics and southern Europe. It is also endemic in Mediterranean and North African countries, notably Sudan and Egypt. For short-stay travellers, it generally presents a low risk. Use an effective repellent to avoid bites when sand flies are active. Read more on leishmaniasis.

 

USA: West Nile toll rising; New hantavirus death; Norovirus hits cruise ship; Turtles spread salmonella; Warning over LA's rabid bats

The death toll from the country's worst outbreak of West Nile virus has now reached 87, with 1193 confirmed cases – almost half from Texas. Of these 1069 (54%) have a neuroinvasive form of the disease and have gone on to develop encephalitis or meningitis. Read more.

A THIRD death from hantavirus has prompted public health officials to expand their warning to include more than 22,000 visitors to Yosemite National Park. A West Virginia man, who visited the iconic park in July, is the latest victim. So far, 8 people have been infected. Read more.

NOROVIRUS has infected 114 passengers and 11 crew members on a cruise ship which travelled from Asian ports to Alaska. Read more.

TURTLES infected with salmonella have infected 160 people across 30 states - mostly children who handled them. Read more.

A RECORD 45 rabies-infected bats have been detected in LA County this year. Authorities warned the public to avoid handling sick or injured bats, especially during the daylight hours. Read more.

 

VIETNAM: HFMD spike in Ho Chi Minh City; New bird flu sparks mass culling

Cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have soared in Ho Chi Minh City recently, with as many as 500 cases reported each week. There were 2258 new cases in August – nearly double July's figure. They bring the year's total to 7804. Read more.

A VIRULENT new strain of bird flu virus has resulted in the culling of 180,000 poultry birds in 6 provinces. Some experts suggest that the new strain is the result of widespread smuggling of poultry from China into the northern Vietnam, which has had 59 bird flu deaths since 2003. Read more

 

WEST AFRICA: More cholera forecast

With heavy rain and flooding forecast, cholera rates in Guinea, Sierra Leone and nations bordering Congo are expected to worsen in coming weeks. UNICEF reports 55,289 cases and 1100 deaths in 15 countries in the region this year. In Sierra Leone alone, there have been a total of 16,360 cases (255 deaths) reported in 12 of the country's 13 districts. Read more.