For the first time in two years, Japanese encephalitis (JE) infections have been reported in the state of Penang – the two cases were in the southern district of Seberang Prai Selatan. Surveillance has been stepped up in the area, including the site of the infections, Sungai Bakap. While in Taiwan, JE peak season has also started and the country’s CDC last week announced the fourth case this year, an older man from Kaohsiung county. The three previous cases were from Pingtung (two cases) and Tainan and (one case). Read more
A REBOUND in cholera cases was reported in Sabah over the four weeks to June 25 after they fell during the lockdown. The state health director said, when announcing the 17 cases from four districts (Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Tuaran and Semporna), that the consumption of raw/undercooked was one of the risk factors for infection.
SELANGOR has reported its first malaria cases this year – 13 of the 14 detected were construction workers in Ampang Jaya, close to the eastern border of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Testing and investigations into the source are being carried out in two neighbourhoods of Ampang. Last year, over 80 percent of malaria cases detected in Malaysia were zoonotic infections with Plasmodium knowlesi parasites. Read more
Advice for travellers
A mosquito-borne virus, JE is usually found in many part of Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China, although cases also occur in Indonesia and PNG. It is mainly found in rural areas around rice paddies where pigs, wading birds and humans live closely together, however it does also occur in or near cities. The risk to short-stay travellers who confine their travel to large urban centres and use appropriate mosquito bite avoidance measures is low. The recommendations for vaccination are itinerary-specific. Read more on JE.
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.