Travel Health Alerts

COVID -19 update

Since 31 December 2019 and as at the 3^rd of March there have been 435 882 971 cases of COVID-19 (in accordance with the applied case definitions and testing strategies in the affected countries) have been reported, including 5 973 364 deaths.

In the African region the 5 countries reporting the most number of cases are South Africa (3 673 257), Morocco (1 160 892), Tunisia (997 754), Libya (493 548) and Egypt (482 248). In Asia its India (42 924 130), Iran (7 040 467), Indonesia (5 564 448), Japan (4 939 220) and Philippines (3 661 997). In Europe it is France (22 690 070), United Kingdom (18 886 701), Russia (16 398 036), Germany (14 740 144) and Turkey (13 974 498) and in the Americas it is United States (79 045 043), Brazil (28 787 620), Argentina (8 900 546), Colombia (6 064 583) and Mexico (5 508 629). While in Oceania it is Australia (2 845 822), New Zealand (100 821), French Polynesia (65 583), Fiji (63 930) and New Caledonia (54 177)
 
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Measles spreading

Nigerian authorities have advised there are 908 cases of suspected measles (254 (28.0%) were confirmed (88 lab confirmed and 166 clinically compatible) in Nigeria, out of 54 LGAs across 16 states all have confirmed at least 1 case. Around 58% of the confirmed cases had not received a dose of measles vaccine. There is an ongoing outbreak in Zamfara State to be confirmed. Read more:

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports Top 10 Countries with Global Measles Outbreaks as follows: India: 4259, Nigeria: 4114; Somalia: 2908, Pakistan: 1960, DRC: 1781, Cote d'Ivoire: 1344, Afghanistan: 964, Yemen: 942, United Republic of Tanzania: 712, Ethiopia: 700. Read more

Advice for travellers

Measles is a highly contagious virus and can cause serious illness in people of all ages. Most cases reported in Australia are linked to overseas travel - both developing and developed countries. Travelvax Australia recommends travellers check their immunisation status for measles and other childhood diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis) and mumps 6 weeks before departure. Read more

Confirmed cases of JEV

There have been a number of confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in the Eastern States, following a health warning issued by Victorian health about the disease on Sunday [27 Feb 2022], after evidence was found in pigs in Echuca, near the New South Wales border. Prompting the Australian Department of Health to issue a “Declaration of a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance”. As at the 8^th of March, there are 9 confirmed human cases of JEV in Australia, 2 in NSW, 1 in QLD, and 6 in Victoria with one person sadly passing away.   

The risk of infection according to experts will be perfect for several months to come due to the ongoing rain and flooding. Authorities are asking people who live in eastern Australia with large numbers of mosquitoes to avoid mosquito bites and to ensure they empty out standing water that might be breeding grounds for mozzies. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and mosquito control activities are being carried out in the vicinity of pig farms infected with JEV. 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.

Seasonal typhoid outbreak

Fiji has recorded 44 cases of typhoid fever so far in 2022. Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the Central Division recorded 14 cases, which he added was within the number of cases expected for this time of the year. He said the Northern Division reported 6 cases, which were mostly from Bua. He said that was also within the number of cases expected for this time of year. Read more

Researchers have found that the growing incidence of typhoid fever in the Pacific over the last 10 years or so is due to ‘consumption of contaminated surface water and unwashed produce’.

Advice for travellers

Typhoid occurs in Pacific countries, although it presents a low risk for travellers staying in hotels or resorts. Travellers should follow safe food and water guidelines, and personal hygiene practices. Vaccination is generally recommended for travellers staying in rural areas, as well as for adventurous eaters. Read more about typhoid.

1st case of Polio in over 30 years

Israel’s Ministry of Health has detected the 1^st case of polio in over 30 years in an unvaccinated 4 year old. The virus has recently been detected in sewerage waters in Jerusalem but up until this time had not caused any clinical cases. Authorities are undertaking epidemiological investigations and are urging Israelis to adhere to routine immunization schedules and to complete any outstanding vaccinations. The head of public health services at the Ministry of Health, Sharon Elroi-Price said: "there are at least tens or hundreds more infections (which are probably asymptomatic). We do not expect there to be a wave of children coming with symptoms, but we understand that the virus is spreading”.Read more

Meanwhile the current conflict in the Ukraine sees mounting health threats including COVID and Polio. The Ukraine has been trying to control an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), with the most recent case detected in January 2022since October. With 2 children who developed paralytic polio, and 19 more who did not develop paralysis. The Ukraine had started as supplemental vaccination campaign on the 1^st of February (now paused) to immunise more than 140,000 children throughout the Ukraine who had not been vaccinated against polio  Read more

Advice for travellers

Poliomyelitis 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 Read more on polio

Yellow Fever outbreak

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has reported a Yellow Fever (YF) outbreak, with 3 patients already dying from the disease and a further 15 suspected cases in the Isiolo County, 270 km north of the capital Nairobi. The 1^st case was detected on the 12^th of January, presenting with fever, jaundice, muscle and joint pain. Read more

Kenya experiences YF outbreaks from time to time, due to low vaccination rates. The last outbreak was from 1991 -1993, including in areas of higher altitude between 1500 and 1800 m in the Tugen Hills (Baringo district, Rift Valley province). 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 – an effective vaccine is available and strict insect bite avoidance measures are recommended. 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.

Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) confirmed

The World Health organization has confirmed Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in a 3 year old child, from Central constituency, Lilongwe district, Central Region. Sequencing of the virus conducted in February by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the virus is genetically linked to WPV1 detected in Pakistan. This is the 1^st case of WPV1 in Malawi since 1992 and as this is an imported case from Pakistan, this detection does not affect the WHO African Region’s wild poliovirus-free certification status (declared in Aug 2020). Read more

Advice for travellers

Poliomyelitis 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 Read more on polio

Leishmaniasis at altitude

Nepal has reported a total of the 219 total cases of visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in 2020 – 2021 of which around 21 were reported from Kalikot, a mountain district which ranges from 738m to 4000m above sea level.  Visceral leishmaniasis transmitted through the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sandfly, has in the past not survived in areas above 650 metres. According to a recent United Nations report "Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" at least 6 major vector-borne diseases affected by the climate drivers have recently emerged in Nepal and are now considered endemic, with climate change implicated as the primary driver. Read more

Advice for travellers

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. There are two main forms – cutaneous and visceral – both transmitted by bites from infected sand flies. The former causes skin ulcers and the latter a severe systemic disease that is usually fatal without treatment. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Brazil account for 90% of visceral leishmaniasis, while 90% of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases occur in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, as well as the South American countries of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Read more on the disease and prevention. Read more

Suitcase malaria and Typhoid clusters

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed a case of odyssean malaria, also known as airport, suitcase, minibus, or taxi-rank malaria in a 7-year-old girl who presented with symptoms of fever, seizures and diarrhoea for nearly two months in the Western Cape. This case had authorities baffled as there had been no history of travel, but is likely linked to a neighbour who had travelled to Mozambique. Although rare such cases have occurred all over the world, if the climate is suitable then the local _Anopheles_ mosquitoes are able to transmit malaria.  Read more

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has further confirmed that there is an outbreak of typhoid fever with 3 clusters in the Western Cape: Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and Garden Route. One cluster has been identified in Kerksdorp in the North West. Typhoid fever is endemic in South Africa with 200 cases of the infection recorded annually, in 2021 there were less than 150 reported cases. Read more

Advice for travellers

Typhoid is endemic in many developing regions, although it generally presents a low risk for short-stay travellers staying in western-style accommodation. Vaccination is itinerary specific, but is usually recommended for those staying or travelling extensively in rural areas, as well as for adventurous eaters and for travel to areas reporting drug-resistant typhoid. All travellers visiting endemic areas should follow safe food and water guidelines, and adopt strict personal hygiene practices. Read more