The second case of angiostrongyliasis (or rat lungworm infection) diagnosed over the past three months was announced by the Hawaiian health department last week. Both cases contracted the infection on Hawai‘i Island. The department’s press release included the advice, ‘We know that most people get sick by accidentally eating infected slugs and snails. Taking precautions—such as washing all fresh produce before enjoying, and getting rid of slugs and snails around our homes and communities—can go a long way toward preventing infection’.
CENTRAL California experienced a rise in diagnoses of the fungal infection Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, last year with over 8,100 cases reported by the Dept. of Public Health. Highest rates of infections were in the counties of Kent, Los Angeles, Fresno, Tulare and San Luis Obispo. The CDC reports that the majority of cases in the US are from Arizona and California and the infection is more common in people aged 60 and over. 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.