World travel health alerts for 4th of June 2019.
More Central Coast dengue in Qld
Qld’s health department has announced another six dengue fever cases were diagnosed in Rockhampton. Surveillance was strengthened and control measures instituted in the Park Avenue area of the city’s north after the first case was identified. 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, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) when outdoors to all exposed skin. Read more about dengue fever and preventing insect bites.
3 states with confirmed YF cases this year
São Paulo, Paraná and Santa Catarina have reported confirmed yellow fever infections this year – the majority (68) were in São Paulo – and people with more exposure to rural regions were more likely to become infected. Outbreaks on yellow fever among non-human primates (epizootics) were more common in southern regions, in particular Paraná, but also São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Pará and Santa Catarina. 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.
Angkor gateway’s dengue
After an early start to the dengue season in Siem Reap, paediatric cases are on the rise for hospital admissions due to dengue, as well as severe dengue. One children’s hospital reports last year’s total number of cases exceeded in the past eight weeks alone. Read more
Advice for travellers
Dengue fever is common in most tropical or sub-tropical regions of the world. The virus is spread by daytime-feeding Aedes mosquitoes and to avoid it and other insect-borne diseases, travellers should apply an insect repellent containing an effective active ingredient, such as DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD), to exposed skin when outdoors during the day. In addition, cover up with long-sleeved tops, long pants, and shoes and socks around dawn and dusk, as well as other times when the mosquitoes are active.
Environmental polio in Far North; Temporary Recommendations to continue
News this week that after a four year interval, an environmental sample of vaccine-derived poliovirus infection (type 2) has been detected in Mada, in the Far North region. Further testing has confirmed the virus is ‘linked to the ongoing cVDPV2 strain circulating in neighbouring Nigeria, which originated in Jigawa State’ and also spread across the borde into Niger. No cases of acute flaccid paralysis have been identified with the virus’ detection in Mada. Read more.
A WHO emergency committee has advised that the current situation regarding wild poliovirus (‘progress made in recent years appears to be reversing’) and cVDPV (‘newly emerged strains of cVDPV2 in Nigeria and DR Congo, and the increased number of infected states / provinces in these two countries, together with evidence of missed transmission in Nigeria, Somalia and Indonesia also suggests the risk of international spread of cVDPV, especially type 2, is rising‘) continue to justify the IHR’s Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) provision for a further three months.
Advice for travellers
Polio is a potentially serious viral illness that is spread through contact with infected faeces or saliva. The risk to travellers is generally low, however vaccination is recommended for travel to affected regions and is a requirement for travel to/from some countries. If at risk, adults should have a booster to the childhood series. More on polio.
Oahu’s stingers; Measles case numbers head towards 1,000
Hundreds of swimmers at popular Oahu beaches in Hawaii were treated for jellyfish stings last week. According to a local news source, some of the swimming spots affected were Waikiki, Ala Moana and Hanauma Bay. Read more
MEASLES cases reported in the USA totalled 981 for the year to May 31 with more infections from the worst affected areas which included two New York City boroughs and Rockland County. Elsewhere, there are updates from Italy (most affected regions were Lazio, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna), North Macedonia (highest incidence is registered in Skopje, Struga and Kumanovo), the Philippines (for the year to May 11 there have been 34,950 measles cases and 477 deaths), the Comoros Islands (three districts of Grande Comore island) and in Chad, over one-quarter of the 17,000+ cases this year have been in the capital N’Djamena. While in Vietnam, a plan is under consideration to make measles vaccinations compulsory for Hanoi’s schoolchildren after this year saw a 20-fold increase in cases compared to last year. A total of 4,000 measles cases have been reported from all but one of the country’s 63 provinces.
Advice for travellers
Measles occurs in developing and developed countries and unvaccinated travellers are at particular risk, both in transit and during their stay. While generally benign, infection can result in severe illness or death. Travelvax Australia recommends travellers check their immunisation status for measles and other childhood diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis) and mumps at least 6 weeks before departure. Read more about measles.
Ebola outbreak now the most severe
More than 2,000 confirmed and probable Ebola virus cases (and 1,346 deaths) have been recorded in what is now the DRC’s worst outbreak of the disease. Five health zones are affected but the ‘epidemic continues to be geographically contained’, according to the latest Ministry of Health newsletter
Advice for travellers
Ebola Virus disease is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever found in humans and other primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). It spreads through families and friends in close contact with blood and infectious secretions of people with obvious symptoms and, as such, presents a low risk to tourists to the affected countries. Read more about Ebola virus disease.
Hep A in southern Kolkata neighbourhood; Second diphtheria case for Kerala
Between 50 and 60 hepatitis A cases have been diagnosed in residents of two southern Kolkata neighbourhoods in the Baghajatin-Ramgarh-Gangulibagan belt and authorities have expressed concern that the outbreak could spread to other nearby areas. Read more
THE SOUTHERN state of Kerala has recorded a second case of diphtheria this year. The most recent infection occurred in a young boy from a suburb of Trivandrum, Parassala, while the earlier case was in a 21yo from Kattakada, Thiruvananthapuram District. Read more
Advice for travellers
Hepatitis A (HAV) is a vaccine-preventable viral disease passed on to humans primarily through oral contact with faeces of an infected person. This can occur through contaminated food and water, by handling everyday items and sexual contact. It is a significant risk in travellers to developing countries where sanitation and hygiene are lacking. A course of hepatitis A vaccine offers immunity that is highly effective and offers long term protection.
Rabies toll rises again; Dengue deaths now 78
All but one of Sarawak’s divisions (Limbang is the exception) are now affected by rabies, according to the Health director-general who this week announced the state’s 17th human rabies death in 11 months. The latest victim was from Kuching. Read more
ON A national level, dengue fever cases continue to mount with more than 51,000 cases and 78 deaths recorded in the year to May 26.
Advice for travellers
Rabies is present in most countries and all travellers should be aware of the importance of avoiding contact with wild and domestic animals. If bitten or scratched, urgent post-exposure treatment is required. Vaccination is normally recommended for longer stays, especially travellers planning to live in, or travel extensively through, rural areas and also for children; however the final recommendation is itinerary-specific. Read more on rabies.
No respite from dengue
The 6-month long dengue outbreak is persisting with the current total of cases sitting at 196 – almost 75 percent of which were reported from the southern state of Koror. Read more. A ReliefWeb post this week advised of a rise in rates of dengue-like illness in the Solomon Islands (for the week ending May 26).
Advice for travellers
Dengue fever is common in most tropical or sub-tropical regions of the world. The virus is spread by daytime-feeding Aedes mosquitoes and to avoid it and other insect-borne diseases, travellers should apply an insect repellent containing an effective active ingredient, such as DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD), to exposed skin when outdoors during the day. In addition, cover up with long-sleeved tops, long pants, and shoes and socks around dawn and dusk, as well as other times when the mosquitoes are active.
Rainy season disease woes
With all four dengue serotypes circulating and a 2-fold increase in dengue fever cases compared to early last year, public health officials have alerted residents living in towns and cities to be aware of mosquitoes as well as other health risks common in the wet season - leptospirosis, influenza, diarrhoea and conjunctivitis. The incidence of dengue infections is on the rise in areas along the Chao Phraya River, while recent increases have also occurred in the central, north-eastern and southern region, according to a government report. Read more
Advice for travellers
Avoid mosquito bites and you won’t get dengue fever. To avoid biting insects, apply repellent containing an active ingredient, such as DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) to all exposed skin when outdoors. Dengue is spread by two types of aedes mosquitoes. Both breed close to dwellings, are found in shady areas and bite mainly during the daylight hours, making them difficult to avoid outdoors. Travellers should also cover up with long-sleeved tops, long pants, and shoes and socks when mosquitoes are most active.