The bubonic plague outbreak in Ituri province continues and now the onset of the wet season has brought fears of further spread from hard-hit Lokpa to a local trading centre, Kpandroma. In a post on ProMED, it was revealed that many patients presented with lesions on their upper body and head which ‘points to contamination during sleep’. The elements have produced a boom in rat and flea populations in and around housing while residents are forced to stay inside out of the rain. Read more
Advice for travellers
Plague poses a low risk to most travellers. The majority of plague cases are due to bubonic plague following the bite of an infected flea carried by rats. If left untreated, infection of the lungs causes the pneumonic form of plague, a severe respiratory illness, which can progress rapidly to death. Read more on the plague.
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.