Travel Health Alerts

JE outbreak summary

Japanese encephalitis (JEV) comes about as a result of being bitten by an infected mosquito, the virus multiplies in the skin and lymph nodes and travels transiently through the blood. Most people are asymptomatic or experience fleeting symptoms such as lethargy and fever. But in a few cases -- less than 1% -- the virus avoids immune defences and migrates to the brain. JEV and its vectors are found in many parts of Asia, the Torres Strait, Papua New Guinea and more recently in Australia’s south, east and in QLD. The first Australian outbreaks occurred on pig farms in Queensland, NSW and Victoria in February 2022, and by June, Japanese encephalitis had affected over 70 farms throughout temperate regions of the country and human cases and deaths were reported. This article provides an outbreak summary for 2022. Read more

QLD Health – Saline alert

QLD Health have issued an alert after the death of a patient in QLD, suspected to be linked to a contaminated normal saline product. The imported products are believed to be linked to an outbreak affecting around 43 individuals and caused by a dangerous bacteria, Ralstonia pickettii, in multiple states and territories. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued an urgent quarantine notice for the two products. Read more: 

Advice for travellers

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 urban centres and use appropriate mosquito bite avoidance measures is low. The recommendations for vaccination are itinerary-specific. Read more on JE. Insect bite prevention is a must. 

Invasive mosquito

A number of recently identified invasive _Aedes_ mosquito species, _Ae. japonicus_ and _Ae. koreicus_, are circulating in several European countries posing potential health risks to humans and animals. "_Ae. koreicus_ was reported in Belgium in 2008. Since then, established populations of _Ae. japonicus_ were detected in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, The Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg and Northern Spain. _Aedes koreicus_ is well established in Italy, Germany, Russia and Hungary, and it has also been found in Slovenia and Switzerland. Fortunately, so far the viruses that they are able to transmit have not spread with them. Read more

Yellow Fever Rio Grande Do Sul

Last week the State Health Surveillance Center (Cevs) confirmed 5 more cases of dead monkeys in which the yellow fever virus was identified. The samples were collected in October 2023 from howler monkeys found in the municipalities of Riozinho, Três Coroas, Santo Antônio das Missões and São Borja, the latter city with 2 confirmed cases. This fact reinforces the recommendations to the population, such as the importance of vaccination and preventive measures for those who access forest areas in these cities. Read more

Advice for travellers

Yellow fever virus is a mosquito-borne disease found in tropical and subtropical areas in Central/South America and Africa. While it can be severe, yellow fever infection is a very rare in Australian travellers. However, under the International Health Regulations (IHR), proof of vaccination may be required of any traveller entering or leaving an area at risk of yellow fever transmission. Read more about yellow fever.

Chikungunya outbreak

An outbreak of chikungunya has been identified in Burkina Faso, with several districts reporting cases (refer to the map). The virus causing chikungunya is transmitted by mosquitoes. Read more

Advice for travellers

Chikungunya infections continue to spread across the Caribbean and Americas. The disease has symptoms similar to dengue fever and is transmitted by day-time feeding Aedes mosquitoes. There is no vaccine or prevention medication; using an effective, tropical-strength repellent to avoid insect bites is the best form of protection. Read more about Chikungunya. 

Upsurge of respiratory illnesses among children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems since Oct 2023, which have been showing an increase in respiratory illness in children in northern China. China’s National Health Commission reported on a nationwide increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases, predominantly affecting children. According to authorities this increase is as a result of lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the arrival of the cold seasons, as well as circulating pathogens such as influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

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Monkeypox expanding

Monkeypox (mpox) is an infectious disease caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is endemic in regions of West, Central and East Africa, particularly in the northern and central regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Eleven of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are identified as endemic for mpox, however this has been expanding, to 22 provinces as of November 2023. Read more

Advice for travellers

Closely related to the smallpox virus, monkeypox has its origins in Central and Western Africa. Rodents are the suspected reservoir, with monkeys and humans as secondary or ‘spill-over’ hosts. People travelling in endemic countries can be infected by eating undercooked ‘bushmeat’ or handling infected animals, making infection a low risk in those regions. More recently, monkeypox has spread person-to-person around the globe, primarily through large respiratory droplets, but also via direct contact with skin lesions or body fluids (i.e. close or intimate contact) and indirect contact by way of contaminated bedding, clothes etc. Read more

Dengue Update

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner J Radhakrishnan said Tamil Nadu now has 6777 dengue cases, and 564 people are admitted to hospitals across the state for treatment of the vector-borne viral infection. Read more:

Advice for travellers

Dengue is spread by two types of aedes mosquitoes which breed in shady areas close homes and other accommodation. Both bite mainly during the daylight hours, making them difficult to avoid outdoors. Travellers should cover up with long-sleeved tops, long pants, and shoes and socks when mosquitoes are most active. Apply repellent containing an active ingredient, such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus when outdoors to all exposed skin. Read more about dengue fever and preventing insect bites.

Japanese encephalitis fatal Yogyakarta

In Kulon Progo Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, 5 children are suspected of suffering from Japanese encephalitis (JE) or inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). These 5 cases were recorded as appearing throughout 2023. One suspect among the children died. Human cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) occur sporadically in Indonesia. 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 urban centres and use appropriate mosquito bite avoidance measures is low. The recommendations for vaccination are itinerary-specific. Read more on JE. Insect bite prevention is a must. 

Swine flu: first human case of new strain

Health authorities are examining the initial verified instance of a novel strain of swine flu in the United Kingdom. The A (H1N2)v infection was identified during a routine flu screening at a general practitioner's office in North Yorkshire. The individual exhibited respiratory symptoms, experienced a mild illness, and has since completely recovered. The person is not reported to have had contact with pigs, and investigations will focus on determining the source of the infection. While human infections with swine flu viruses are documented, there have been 50 reported cases of A (H1N2) globally in the past two decades. Read more

Flu on the rise in multiple Northern Hemisphere regions

Globally, there has been an upsurge in influenza detections, particularly in parts of the temperate Northern hemisphere. This includes regions in Europe, Central Asia, North America, as well as Eastern and Western Asia.  In North America, although influenza detections increased, they generally remained low or below baseline levels. Among the detections, Influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses were predominant. The United States of America (USA) witnessed an elevation in Influenza-like illness (ILI) above the seasonal threshold, while in Canada, ILI levels were within the anticipated range for this time of year. Additionally, there was an increase in influenza-associated hospitalizations in the USA. Read more

Advice for travellers

Seasonal flu is the most common vaccine-preventable travel-related illness because it is a potential risk during every stage of the journey. Whether you are travelling within Australia or overseas, Travelvax recommends vaccination, when available, for all travellers over 6 months of age. Read more