WORLD TRAVEL HEALTH ALERTS – February 9, 2011

– Northern floodwaters bring mozzie diseases to South Australia
– Flu continues eastward push in Europe
– Nipah virus death toll rises in Bangladesh
– Jeddah faces disease outbreaks after flooding
– Cholera alerts for Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana
– Three cases of cholera in New York
– Bangladesh holiday results in typhoid
– Malaria hits coastal city in Kerala
– Overseas visitors bring measles to Oslo
– More measles cases confirmed in New Zealand
– Fears lethal malaria could spread to Africa

Northern floodwaters bring mozzie diseases to South Australia
In South Australia, a steep rise in cases of mosquito-borne Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus looks set to continue as Queensland floodwaters swell the Murray River. There have been 351 cases this year, compared to 16 last year. More details.
Advice to travellers: Outbreaks of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses peak in summer and autumn. Both viruses cause flu-like illness with joint pains, fever, and a rash lasting 7-10 days. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for either disease: Using an effective repellent to minimise mosquito bites is the best form of protection.

Flu continues eastward push in Europe
Influenza activity in the European northern winter last week saw the recent trend continue: Declining in the UK, but increasing as the virus heads eastward. This bulletin reports medium to very high intensity in 23 countries on the Continent. More details.
Advice to travellers: As advis ed previously, Australia will be without flu vaccine stocks until at least the end of February. The vaccine available in Australia last year protects against the flu strains currently circulating in the northern hemisphere and provides protection lasting 6-12 months.

Nipah virus death toll rises in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, 24 people from two villages have died after an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus encephalitis. Another 24 are receiving treatment in hospital. More details.
Advice to travellers: Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic virus (one transmitted to humans from animals) which causes severe encephalitis or respiratory diseases and kills 40-75% of victims. While infected pigs were involved in previous outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore, authorities believe dates or raw date juice contaminated by urine or saliva from infected fruit bats are the most likely source of infection in this outbreak in Bangladesh. Outbreaks are rare and pose little risk to travellers.

Jeddah faces disease outbreaks after flooding
Health experts in Saudi Arabia are bracing for dengue fever and water-borne diseases in Jeddah this week after torrential rain caused flooding in parts of the capital last Wednesday. More details.

Cholera alerts for Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana
In Zimbabwe, residents fear cholera will return to Lusaka after torrential rains left many homes surrounded by filthy floodwaters following recent torrential rain. More details.
In Nigeria, cholera is widespread in Kano state. More details.
In Ghana, there is a major outbreak of cholera in Ghana’s capital, Accra, with 240 cases reported. More details.
Advice to travellers: For most short-stay travellers, the risk of cholera is low. However, the disease spreads rapidly and travellers heading to infected regions should adhere to strict personal hygiene guidelines and choose only safe food and beverages. Travelvax can offer advice on the risks for a journey, and whether vaccination should be considered. Contact Travelvax on 1300 360 164.

Three cases of cholera in New York
Three New Yorkers have contracted cholera after attending a lavish wedding in the Dominican Republic, which borders Haiti. At least 64 of the 500 wedding guests have been treated for the disease in Venezuela. Experts suspect ice used to store lobsters consumed at the wedding reception may have been contaminated. More details.

Bangladesh holiday results in typhoid
Also in New York, a 4-year-old Long Island girl is in quarantine after contracting typhoid fever when her family visited Bangladesh. More details.

Malaria hits coastal city in Kerala
In Kerala, India’s southern-most state, 9 cases of malaria have been recorded in the coastal city of Vizhinjam. Fogging and spraying are underway to reduce mosquito-breeding sites. Dengue fever is also endemic to the area. More details.

Overseas visitors bring measles to Oslo
In Norway, 5 children from immigrant communities in Oslo have measles after the highly contagious disease was introduced by overseas visitors. Several of the youngest children are being treated in hospital. More details.
Advice to travellers: Measles is highly contagious, as evidenced by this alert and the following one in New Zealand. Travellers who have not had two documented doses of live virus vaccine should consider a booster as part of their pre-travel vaccination regime.

More measles cases confirmed in New Zealand
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, more measles cases have been recorded in Auckland and Wellington after infected passengers on an Emirates Airlines flight from Brisbane introduced the disease last month. There are now 12 confirmed or suspected cases, including 9 people aboard the flight. More details.

Fears lethal malaria could spread to Africa
A lethal form of malaria is emerging in a disputed region on the Thai-Cambodian border. A military build-up is undermining international efforts to contain the malaria parasites that are becoming increasingly resistant to artemisinin, the frontline medication for treating the disease. The WHO, which is spearheading a global program to contain malaria, fears the drug-resistant parasite would have a devastating impact if it reached Africa. More details.

Travelvax Australia compiles this weekly bulletin of global travel health alerts, risk assessments and advice for the information of Australian travellers and the travel industry. Please contact our travel health advisory service on 1300 360 164 for broad destination-specific advice and vaccination recommendations. Recommended vaccines, travel medication, trip-specific advice and accessories are available during a medical consultation with a travel health professional at any of Travelvax Australia’s 32 clinics. Visit our website or call 1300 360 164 for details.