Measles infections have soared in the NE state of Borno, with more than 1,150 children admitted to hospital in Maiduguri for treatment since December. Over half of all cases admitted to the MSF managed hospital in the state capital come from the nearby ‘volatile’ settlement of Zabarmari. Read more
OUTBREAKS of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry have flared up again in seven states this year and supplementary testing extended to bird handlers has uncovered six or seven probable influenza A(H5) human cases (confirmation from WHO Collaborating Centre pending) in Kano and Plateau. Afludiary reports that ‘HPAI H5 has been on the ascendant for the past 8 or 9 months, and we've started to see human infections again in China and Southeast Asia and simultaneous epizootics in Europe and in Asia’. In related news, a young boy has become Laos’ first human case of H5N6 avian influenza and the first case outside China. He lived in Luang Prabang province and had confirmed contact with poultry. Thirty H5N6 infections have been detected since 2014 in China. Read more.
Advice for travellers
There are several strains of bird flu and while the virus can be fatal, infection generally poses a low risk for travellers – even for those heading to a region where the disease is present or an outbreak is occurring. Travellers should avoid contact with birds or poultry in marketplaces, wash hands thoroughly before and after preparing food, and observe strict personal hygiene. Read more on bird flu and how to avoid 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.