Travel Health Alerts

Imported measles case in Victoria

A measles alert was issued last week after an overseas traveller infectious with measles returned to Victoria and visited a number of public sites over a 3-day period from June 23-25. The locations included a shopping centre and gym. Read more

Advice for travellers

Measles occurs in developing and developed countries and unvaccinated travellers are at particular risk, both in transit and during their stay. In general the infection is relatively benign, but complications 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.

Suspected YF cases in several regions

Africa’s CDC announced 184 suspected yellow fever (YF) cases and four deaths in the CAR’s first outbreak since 2021; the cases were spread across all seven regions. And in Senegal, surveillance has been enhanced in Ziguinchor after a single YF infection was confirmed in the coastal region – the last positive YF cases were recorded in 2020, in the regions of Matam, Kedougou and Tambaccounda. 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.

Mosquito-borne disease threat expands

Last month the ECDC issued advice on the heightened risk of mosquito-borne diseases in the region as the range of the invasive Aedes albopictus species continues to expand, now ‘established in 13 countries and 337 regions’. The agency also commented on the sustained presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (vector of dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika virus and yellow fever) in Cyprus since last year and the possibility that it ‘may continue to spread to other European countries’. The reasons behind the shift in risk include longer, warmer summers and flood events. Read more

Advice for travellers

The symptoms of chikungunya fever are similar to dengue fever and both are transmitted by the same mosquitoes – the day-time feeding Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Acute joint pain with a rash is typical of chikungunya and while fatal cases are rare, painful joints may persist for weeks or months after the acute phase has ended. There is no approved vaccine or prevention medication; using an effective, tropical-strength repellent to avoid insect bites is the best form of protection. Read more about chikungunya.

Hep E infections rise

An increase in hepatitis E notifications across the country, but more particularly in the Moravian-Silesian region, is assumed to be due to the consumption of undercooked pork from infected swine or through cross-contamination during meal preparation. The zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus is an emerging threat in Europe, although the majority of infections are asymptomatic. Read more  

Global polio digest

The first polio report for 2023 announced by the GPEI involved a case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in the Northern province, while the same serotype was behind three infections in the states of Mongala and Lualaba in the D R of Congo. Four more cVDPV1 cases were also logged by the DRC, and in Madagascar another three cVDPV1 patients were diagnosed (Atsinanana and Analamanga). 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. More on polio.

Typhoid cases top 160, leptospirosis outbreak reported

Half-yearly data on typhoid fever infections reveal an increase on 2022’s case numbers for the same period. Of the 162 typhoid cases this year, 40 were in the North Division, while a vaccination drive with a typhoid conjugate vaccine has commenced in one of the three affected provinces, Macuata (also Cakaudrove and Bua). In other news, leptospirosis has sickened 31 people from Kadavu this year and, according to news reports, 15 were critically ill and one death has resulted. The bacterial illness is also affecting parts of Vanuatu, with 85 cases this year, six fatal. Santo was the site of the most recent infections. Read more

Advice for travellers

Typhoid fever 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 about typhoid fever.

Monsoon’s health effects

Seasonal infections associated with the onset of the monsoon are starting to emerge: Japanese encephalitis in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, a surge in malaria infections in Barmer district, Rajasthan and dengue fever is spreading in Odisha (Bhubaneswar and Cuttack). Read more

Advice for travellers

Travelvax recommends that travellers visiting malarious regions discuss their itinerary and the possible need for anti-malaria medication during a pre-travel medical consultation. More on malaria.

Pertussis risk in low vax communities

Pertussis cases have spiked this year in communities with low vaccination rates located mostly in Jerusalem and nearby Beit Shemesh and Beitar Ilit. Almost half of the children infected with whooping cough have been aged under 12 months and a recent death occurred in an unvaccinated baby under three months of age. In responding to the outbreak, the health department has lowered the age for the first dose of a pertussis-containing vaccine for babies from two months to six weeks. Read more

Advice for travellers

Travelvax Australia recommends that all travellers ensure they are current for whooping cough (pertussis) and all childhood vaccinations, including, diphtheria, measles, chickenpox and tetanus for travel to any destination – be it a developed or developing country. Read more about pertussis.

More dengue this year

A year-on-year increase in dengue fever cases has seen more than 7,000 infections recorded in the first half of 2023. The most affected province was Oudomxay in the country’s NW. Dengue-related deaths have been substantially reduced after the introduction of enhanced diagnosis and treatment methods. In other news on dengue fever, a senior Taiwan CDC doctor has warned that dengue infections ‘are growing quickly’, with clusters identified in Tainan and Yunlin County (Gukeng area). Almost half of the cases have been in the over 60 age group and severe dengue has been confirmed for the first time in three years. Read more

Advice for travellers

Avoid mosquito bites to protect against 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.

Black fever in western district

Local media report cases of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in all parts of Kalikot district, and in a further sign of a warming climate, there has been spread into the hilly areas as well. Kalikot district lies in western Nepal, in Karnali province. Elsewhere, cutaneous leishmaniasis infections on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula have increased in 2023, exceeding the average for the past four years. Highest incidence is in forested areas of the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo, but locally acquired cases are now also registered in Yucatán state. Read more

Advice for travellers

Leishmaniasis is generally a low risk for travellers. The parasitic disease is 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. There is no vaccine or preventative medication: avoiding infection relies on avoiding sand fly bites. Read more on the disease and prevention.

Rains bring disease risk to HCMC

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases have surged in the children of Ho Chi Minh City, with of almost 800 new infections in the week to June 25 and rising hospitalisations. The incidence of dengue fever has also risen in the wake of recent rains. A senior infectious disease doctor at one of the city’s paediatric hospitals said that many children were found to have dengue and HFMD co-infections. Read more

Advice for travellers

HFMD mainly affects young children and symptoms include fever, oral lesions, and rash on the hands, feet and buttocks. There is no vaccine or preventative medication, but good hand hygiene will greatly reduce the risk of infection. Read more about HFMD.