Hepatitis E cases are reported to have risen sharply since mid-May in a camp for displaced persons in the north of the country, and to date the number of infected individuals is some 10 times higher than for the same period in 2019 and double the 2020 cases. The outbreak started in early 2018. The Bentiu camp lies in Unity State, near the border with Sudan, leading the WHO regional office to express concern that the highly porous border and mobile population could seed the infection across state lines. Read more
Advice for travellers
The hepatitis E virus is transmitted mainly through faecal contamination of drinking water. Infection during the latter stages of pregnancy carries a higher rate of severe disease and mortality. Unlike the Hep A and B viruses, there is no vaccine for this strain in Australia, which is especially common in communities with lower levels of sanitation and hygiene. Read more about the virus and how to prevent it.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.