An update on the salmonella outbreaks which spread through 34 US states and seven Canadian provinces over June and July revealed the probable source as several varieties of onions produced by a Californian company. The products, which were distributed nationwide in the US and possibly also in Canada, have been recalled. Read more
AN Alaskan health department press release details the rise in STIs affecting the state (and the nation), noting that ‘combined rates of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia are at all-time highs’. One point of note was that more infections were being seen in heterosexual men and women. Syphilis cases reported in 2019 were the highest ever. Read more
Advice for travellers
Salmonella is a bacterium typically found in food, such as poultry, that causes diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal cramps between 12 and 72 hours after infection. Illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment, although diarrhoea may be so severe as to require hospital treatment. Young children and the elderly are at highest risk of severe illness. As there is no vaccine to prevent salmonellosis, it is best to avoid raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Read more
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.