Shifting disease patterns and outbreaks affect the recommendations and information we provide to travellers during a pre-travel consultation. Each week Travelvax updates the current travel health alerts to reflect those issues which could affect travellers heading to a particular region or country. We do this by scanning the websites of health agencies such as the World Health Organization and the European and US Centers for Disease Control, as well as international news media. Simply click on the point on the map of your area of interest for more details on the current health alert. We also include Advice for Travellers which gives background information and tips. If you have any further questions, of course you can give our Travelvax infoline a call during business hours on 1300 360 164.
World travel health alerts for 17th of August 2022
Novel virus detected in 2 eastern provinces
The recent discovery of a virus related to both Hendra and Nipah viruses is the subject of an article published by GAVI entitled ‘Five things you need to know about Langya virus’ (LayV). Thirty-five human LayV cases (mostly farmers) have been detected in the eastern provinces of Shandong and Henan since 2018, with no apparent link between cases. All had presented with fever and respiratory symptoms; no deaths have been recorded. Subsequent testing of animals in the affected areas suggests shrews as the virus reservoir. Read more
More positive polio samples, global digest
More positive wastewater samples have been linked to the paralytic polio case reported earlier - they were collected from Rockland and Orange Counties from May to July. Details surrounding the case and public health response have been published by the CDC in an Aug 16 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. And late last week the New York State health department announced an additional six positive results from stored samples taken from locations in New York City which have not as yet been linked to the Rockland County case. The department advised residents to ensure their polio vaccinations were current in view of ‘further evidence of local—not international—transmission of a poliovirus that can cause paralysis and potential community spread’. As of August 1, 2022, polio vaccination rates (three doses by age two years) were around 60 percent in Rockland and Orange Counties, while the state-wide average is roughly 80 percent. Read more. While in the UK, an Aug 12 ECDC update reported that polio isolates have been detected in eight more London boroughs, with the genetic diversity suggesting ‘some level of virus transmission both in the areas where positive samples were found and in adjacent ones.’ Health authorities in London are offering polio booster doses to children aged from 12 months to nine years. According to the latest UKHSA post, the affected areas take in some districts with low vaccination rates. In other polio news, the GPEI reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases in the D R of Congo and Yemen, while Mozambique logged a single cVDPV1 case. 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.
Dengue case in the SE
A second locally-acquired dengue fever case for 2022 has been reported in the south of France: this time in the town of Fayence, NW of Cannes in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Authorities have been aware of the risk of local cases since the first dengue infection was detected in the summer of 2014 and have quickly responded, commencing insecticide fogging in the neighbourhood last weekend. 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.
Vax rule introduced
Under the Measles Protection Act, as of August 1, 2022, compulsory measles vaccination is required for ‘all German citizens born after 1970 who belong to certain categories, including, but not limited to, children from the age of one attending kindergartens or schools, or health and social care workers must now show proof of vaccination or natural immunity against measles.’ Germany has recorded 50 confirmed and suspected measles cases this year to July 31. Read more
Monkeypox variants renamed, case update
By Aug 16, more than 38,000 monkeypox (MPX) cases had been registered in 93 countries, seven of which historically reported the infection. There has been some stabilisation in numbers, with daily cases falling from over 1,000 on Aug 10 to around 680 on Aug 16, according to Our World in Data. In related news, findings from a recent study conducted in the UK reveal sustained monkeypox transmission has taken place since ‘at least April … with potential importations and exportations from other countries in Europe’. Lastly, WHO experts have renamed the monkeypox variants ‘to avoid causing offense to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups’. They are now designated as Clade I (formerly Congo Basin) and Clades IIa and IIb (West African). There are moves to change the disease name also – an open consultation is underway. 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 from the WHO on the current outbreaks of monkeypox.
Last Marburg case recovers
Ghanaian health authorities announced the recovery of the final Marburg virus case on Friday, leaving the final toll at two deaths from three confirmed cases. Providing there are no new cases, the outbreak will officially be declared over 42 days after the last negative test, which was performed on the surviving case on August 6. Read more
Advice for travellers
Marburg virus disease is a rare but severe viral haemorrhagic fever, related to the Ebola virus, and there is no treatment. Found in the African fruit bat, Marburg typically appears in sporadic outbreaks and laboratory-confirmed cases have occurred in Uganda, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Angola. Preventive measures are not well defined, as study in how it is spread continues, but travellers should avoid contact with fruit bats and sick primates in central Africa. Read more
COVID-19 update
In the Aug 10 WHO weekly epi update, the only region to report an increase in new COVID-19 cases was the Western Pacific, up by nearly 30 percent over the previous week. Laos and Mongolia logged the largest proportional increases in the region, while highest case numbers were from Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Read more. In the Marshall Islands, a cluster of locally-acquired COVID-19 cases was confirmed in a Majuro family at the beginning of last week indicating viral spread in the community for several days. By August 12, the government announced a State of Health Disaster and cases are now being reported in several more atolls; more than 1,300 new infections were announced in the last daily update. Read more.
In related news:
- The UK has become the first nation to approve a bivalent vaccine (original SARS-CoV-2 plus Omicron BA.1 variant) for use in its autumn booster roll-out for adults. Read more
Flu activity remains elevated
The latest WHO global influenza update takes in data to July 24, advising increasing levels of elevated flu-like activity in Samoa and Kiribati, while New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna reported smaller increases. In temperate areas of the southern hemisphere and in SE Asia, flu detections decreased and they remained stable in Southern Asia. In a separate report, the Solomon Islands health department has reported the circulation of several respiratory viruses in the community, including flu (H3), rhinovirus and adenovirus. Read more
ON AUGUST 11 the Ministry of Health Samoa announced it was investigating a spike in the number of young children presenting with fever and rash, possibly indicating transmission of chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Read more
Advice for travellers
In most years, seasonal flu is the most common vaccine-preventable travel-related illness: it’s likely to be found aboard aircraft, in crowded airport terminals, and at your destination. Whether you are travelling within Australia or overseas, vaccination is highly recommended and travellers should also avoid close contact with people showing flu-like symptoms, and thoroughly washing hands using soap and water after using the toilet and before eating. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is a convenient alternative if soap and water is not available.
Measles outbreak toll climbs to 71
The Aug 7 WHO regional bulletin provided an update on the measles outbreak that has now become the country’s worst in five years, with nearly 6,000 cases and 71 deaths. The first reports emerged at the end of last year and the rate of spread increased in March. While infections have been recorded in all 15 counties, the three with most cases are Montserrado (location of the capital, Monrovia), Nimba and Margibi. The agency advised that a ‘second phase of the nationwide measles vaccination campaigns in all 15 counties is being conducted’. 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.
Malaria risk greatest in 6 departments
The health ministry has provided details on the increase in malaria cases this year, up by nearly 65 percent compared to 2021. CDC Peru had logged more than 15,000 infections to the last week of July and Loreto had the majority of cases, followed by Junín and Amazonas. Of the regions, those considered to carry ‘the highest risk of contracting malaria are currently: Cusco, San Martín, Ayacucho, Ucayali, Cajamarca and La Libertad’. According to an epidemiological alert using YTD data to mid-July, Plasmodium vivax infection comprised nearly 84 percent of cases and 16 percent were due to P. falciparum. Read more
Advice for travellers
Travelvax recommends that travellers planning a visit to malarious regions discuss their itinerary and preventative measures, including medication, during a pre-travel medical consultation. More on malaria.
Dengue incidence rises
The number of dengue cases reported this year is double that of the same period in 2021, while the top three locations to date have been Central Luzon, Central Visayas and the National Capital Region. Quezon City has experienced a significant increase in cases, rising by almost 130 percent and seven deaths have been recorded. Read more. And in Singapore, the weekly dengue fever case count has come down from a peak of around 1,600 in mid-May to 890 last week. Currently the NEA is monitoring 86 high risk clusters (more than 10 cases) and the less common dengue type 3 serotype was detected in 79 of the clusters. Infections are expected to remain at higher levels for several months.
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.