AUSTRALIA: Mosquito virus detected in WA, SA
Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) has been detected in sentinel chickens at Wyndham and Kununurra, in Western Australia’s East Kimberley region, and in far north South Australia. Last year, WA had 11 cases, including a fatality, with 16 cases and 4 fatalities in total nationwide. .
Advice to travellers: MVE is spread to humans via infected mosquitoes. The virus can cause severe illness and, in rare cases, even death, although the risk of infection is generally low. Travellers visiting wetland areas should take all measures to prevent mosquito bites, applying an insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin when outdoors. The mosquitoes that spread MVE are active at dawn and dusk, particularly in the first two hours after dark.

CHINA: Second bird flu death in south
Another sporadic case of avian A/H5N1 has claimed a second life in as many months following the weekend death of a 39-year-old man in the south western city of Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province. Since 2003, there have been 42 cases (28 deaths) from bird flu in China, with a peak in 2006 (13 cases). Read more (ProMED, Jan 22). With China’s Lunar New Year underway (Jan 23-Feb 6), authorities are concerned at the risk of bird flu and other infectious diseases spreading as people travel long distances in crowded buses and trains to celebrate in their home cities and villages. Read more.
Advice to travellers: Bird flu poses a low risk for most travellers as almost all human bird flu infections have involved close contact with sick birds, or with an infected family member. Travellers visiting areas where outbreaks are occurring should maintain high levels of personal hygiene, washing hands before and after food preparation. They should also avoid: live animal markets, poultry and pig farms; handling sick or dead birds or animals, including cats; touching any surfaces that may be contaminated by poultry droppings; swimming in any body of water that is used by birds; eating poultry products, eggs and pork products not thoroughly cooked; consume raw poultry products, such as raw duck blood. Read more on bird flu.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: New cholera epidemic erupts
Thousands are at risk from a new cholera epidemic in South Kivu, capital of Bukavu Province. To mid-January there were 1600 confirmed cases and more than 14 deaths, according to a media report. Read more.
Advice to travellers: For most short-stay travellers, the risk of cholera is low. However, Australians travelling to regions where major outbreaks are occurring should adhere to strict personal hygiene guidelines and choose food and beverages with care. Travelvax Australia (1300 360 164) can offer advice on whether vaccination should be considered.

HONG KONG: New Scarlet fever death
New fears have emerged that Scarlet fever has resurfaced in Hong Kong following two new cases among school students, one fatal. Both cases featured toxic shock syndrome complications. In December, the Shanghai Daily reported 40 cases in elementary school in the city.

INDIA: Gastro, cholera hits Puducherry; Scrub typhus deaths in Tamil Nadu; Measles in Arunachal Pradesh
Puducherry has been hit by an outbreak of gastroenteritis and cholera centred on Mudaliarpet, Boomianpet, and Gorimedu. More than 100 people were treated in hospitals and special camps set up in the southern territory. Read more.
Scrub typhus has spread from Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district to claim 3 lives in the neighbouring Erode district. The disease is spread by mites that live on rodents attracted to groundnuts and grains at local farms. Read more.
Measles has been reported in villages in East Kameng, a district of Arunachal Pradesh. Read more.
Advice to travellers: Scrub typhus has been reported from many regions of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Known disease-endemic regions extend from Japan and eastern Russia southward to Australia and westward to Pakistan and Afghanistan. There is no vaccine for the disease: avoiding rodent-infested areas and using an effective insect repellent are the best forms of protection. Without timely antibiotic treatment, scrub typhus can be fatal.

INDONESIA: Rabies alert lifted, but active areas remain
The rabies warning for Bali following the start of the epidemic in 2008 has been lifted after fatalities fell from 83 in 2010 to 26 last year, the Jakarta Globe reports. However, active transmission continues in four villages in 3 regencies, according to the online news service, Bali Discovery.

MAURITIUS: Chikungunya returns
Health authorities are hoping a case of Chikungunya fever in Ebene City, 15km south of the capital, Port Louis, is an isolated one. There have been isolated cases and outbreaks of Chikungunya virus in recent years, the last exactly a year ago. Read more (ProMED, Jan 19).
Advice to travellers: Chikungunya is spread by the same daytime-feeding Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue fever. Travellers should cover up when outdoors, as well as apply an insect repellent containing an effective active ingredient (DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus) to exposed skin. As with dengue, there is no vaccine or preventative medication for Chikungunya.

PHILIPPINES: Luzon, Mindanao on cholera alert
Authorities are concerned over cholera outbreaks at either end of the country. In far northern Albay province, health authorities are keeping a cholera watch on Barangay Gapo (Daraga) following 3 deaths this month. Albay recorded 7 cases of cholera in December - 5 from Daraga town, and one each from Ligao City and Legazpi. Read more.
Meanwhile, in the south on Mindanao Island, there is a cholera outbreak in Sibulao, 63km east of Zamboanga City. Read more.

SOMALIA: Cholera toll rising
Cholera and famine have combined to kill scores of children in Dolo Ado refugee camp near the
Ethiopia-Somalia border. Read more.