Thursday, 17 May 2012
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“Are my shots still good?”

Thursday, 17 February 2011

“Travelvax gave me my vaccinations when I went to Thailand a year ago. I’m going to Vietnam and Cambodia for two weeks next month and I wondered if those shots were still good. Do I need anything else?”

We get many calls just like this one at Travelvax Australia’s travel health advisory service (1300 360 164). That’s not surprising, given Southeast Asia is by far the most popular holiday region with Aussie travellers.

As it turned out, this caller (a 20-something woman we’ll call Lisa) had her Travelvax vaccination record book on hand, so she was able to tell travel health consultant, Sue what shots she had for last year’s two-week stay in a mid-range hotel in Phuket.

Her vaccinations included two rounds of Hepatitis A and B, the influenza vaccine, plus boosters of her childhood vaccinations.

Next, Sue asked Lisa for the short version of her 14-day itinerary to Vietnam and Cambodia.

After arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, Lisa is planning a day trip to the Mekong Delta, before heading north to stay in Nha Trang, Hoi An, and finally, Hanoi. The 5-day Cambodia leg will include 3 days at Siem Reap to visit the Anghor Wat temple complex, plus two days in Phnom Penh.

Sue’s conversation with Lisa went much like this...

Full Article

WORLD TRAVEL HEALTH ALERTS

– New outbreak of typhoid in Fiji
– Dengue widespread in Latin America
– Aggressive dengue strain hits Peru
– Dengue raging in Sri Lanka
– Flu numbers still rising in Europe, USA
– Massive campaign to target rabies in Indonesia
– Leptospirosis claims 4 lives on Java
– More measles lands in New Zealand
– Measles causes hospital scare in Taiwan
– Cholera alerts for Ghana, Mozambique
– Nipah claims another victim in Bangladesh
– Ukraine sees sharp rise in German measles
– Unsterile equipment blamed for hepatitis transmission
– New mosquito raises malaria stakes in Africa

New outbreak of typhoid in Fiji
Typhoid has resurfaced in Fiji, with a major outbreak in the villages of Sawanikula, Narokorokoyawa, Nasau, and Korovou, located north of Suva (Viti Levu island). The number of confirmed cases has not been released, however more than 100 people have been tested. Curfews have been imposed to contain the outbreak, according to media reports. More details.

Advice to travellers: Sporadic outbreaks of typhoid in Fiji represent a low risk for short-stay visitors staying in hotels and resorts. As the disease is spread by contaminated food and beverages, all travellers should follow safe food and water guidelines – especially when visiting rural areas. Australians heading to Fiji can seek advice on vaccination against typhoid by calling Travelvax Australia’s travel health advisory service (1300 360 164).

Dengue widespread in Latin America
In Central and South America, dengue fever epidemics show no sign of abating in 2011. There have been 46,600 confirmed or suspected cases and 31 deaths this year, including Peru (14), Colombia (8), Paraguay (5), and Bolivia (4).

Brazil is experiencing widespread outbreaks, particularly in northern states. There have been a conservative 26,034 cases (12 deaths).
This week’s dengue bulletin also includes reports from in El Salvador, Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), Australia (north Queensland), and The Philippines.

More details.
Advice to travellers: Dengue has become a major public health problem in Latin America. The disease killed almost 1200 people in the region in 2010, and there early signs last year’s high case numbers will continue in 2011. Australians heading to the tropics should take all measures to avoid mosquito bites. Insect repellent containing DEET or Citriodiol should be applied to exposed skin regularly. The Aedes mosquitoes that transmit the virus inhabit urban areas.

Aggressive dengue strain hits Peru
A highly aggressive strain of dengue has killed 14 people and infected 13,000 others in Peru's northern Amazon jungle. The new strain is relatively unknown in Peru and the local population has little or no immunity to it. It is believed to have entered the country from Brazil which has seen large outbreaks of dengue for several years now. More details.

Dengue raging in Sri Lanka
On the eve of the Cricket World Cup, dengue case numbers have risen sharply across Sri Lanka during February, with Colombo, Gampaha and Puttalam hardest hit. The 1105 cases to Feb 11 included 13 deaths, mostly in the capital. With more heavy rain and flooding predicted, health authorities are preparing for a severe epidemic. More details.

Flu numbers still rising in Europe, USA
Recent influenza trends continued last week, with most activity in Europe and the USA.
EUROPE: Influenza activity is increasing central, southern and eastern regions of the Continent.
NORTH AMERICA: There was an upward trend in the USA, with rates declining in Canada.
AMERICAS: In tropical regions, there was very little transmission last week.
NORTH AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST: transmission is declining after recent peaks.
ASIA: Tropical regions report the most activity, notably Singapore and China (including Hong Kong), where (H1N1) 2009 virus is accounting for about 90 percent of the samples tested.
More details.
Advice to travellers: As advised previously, Australia will be without flu vaccine stocks until at least the end of February. The vaccine available in Australia last year provided protection lasting 6-12 months against the flu strains currently circulating in the northern hemisphere.

Massive campaign to target rabies in Indonesia
To curb the spread of rabies, Indonesian authorities will target Bali (119 deaths), North Sumatra's Nias Island (26), and Maluku's West Maluku Tenggara (20) in a two-year, $US17m campaign. International experts say the actual rabies death toll in Bali since 2008 is 151. More details.
Advice to travellers: All travellers to Indonesia should avoid contact with wild and domestic animals, and if bitten seek urgent post-exposure treatment. As stated previously, the risk of rabies for most travellers to Bali is low. However, rabies immunoglobulin for rapid post-exposure treatment remains in short supply on Bali. Dogs are the most common carriers of the disease, which is present in most countries. More on rabies.

Leptospirosis claims 4 lives on Java
On Java, authorities in the Sedayu district (near Yogyakarta) have placed a bounty on rats to stop a persistent outbreak of leptospirosis, which claimed 4 lives (15 cases) in January. Recent cases have also been recorded in districts of West and Central Jakarta. More details.
Advice to travellers: Leptospirosis bacteria spread in water containing the urine of infected animals and typically occurs during floods. The bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth), especially if the skin is broken. Travellers should avoid swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine. More on leptospirosis.

More measles lands in New Zealand
New Zealand has had its second airline-related measles scare in less than a month. An infected passenger was aboard a Pacific Blue flight from Melbourne to Christchurch and others on board the plane have been warned they may have been exposed. Last month, a passenger on Emirates Flight EK434 from Brisbane to New Zealand, passed on measles to 12 people, including other passengers and those in contact with them. More details.
Advice to travellers: This alert and the following one highlight the potential for measles to be spread during flights. Travellers who have not had two documented doses of live virus vaccine should consider a booster as part of their pre-travel vaccination regime. Regardless of their destination, we recommend all travellers check their immunisation status for measles and other childhood diseases, including whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps and polio, as part of their pre-travel medical preparations.

Measles causes hospital scare in Taiwan
A foreign student who contracted measles overseas may have unwittingly infected hundreds of people after he presented himself for treatment at the emergency department of a Taiwan hospital. Authorities have placed 467 patients, their families and medical staff on a watch list. More details.

Cholera alerts for Ghana, Mozambique
GHANA: A month-long cholera epidemic has now infected more than 500 people in the capital, Accra. More details.
MOZAMBIQUE: A cholera epidemic in central Manica province has spread from the capital, Chimoio to the districts of Guro and Sussundenga. 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.

Nipah claims another victim in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the death toll from Nipah encephalitis rose to 31 on Sunday following the death of a man who contracted the disease after drinking infected date juice. More details.
Advice to travellers: Nipah virus is a rare zoonotic virus (one transmitted to humans from animals). While it poses little risk to travellers, it causes severe encephalitis or respiratory diseases and kills 40-75% of victims. 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.

Ukraine sees sharp rise in German measles
There has been a sharp rise in rubella (German measles) cases among 30-40 year olds in the Lviv region of the Ukraine. There were 18 cases in January, more than half the 32 recorded in all of 2010. The outbreak is causing of concern as the age group includes women of fertile age. More details.
Advice to travellers: Live attenuated viral rubella vaccine is the 'R' component in the triple MMR [measles, mump s, rubella] vaccine. As stated earlier, travellers should check their immunisation status for all childhood diseases, including whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps, and polio as part of their pre-travel medical preparations.

Unsterile equipment blamed for hepatitis transmission
As many as 142 people have been infected with hepatitis B and C in India’s northwest. Authorities have launched a crackdown on unqualified medical practitioners in the Moga district of Punjab state after it was discovered they passed on the deadly blood-borne viruses through the reuse of needles and syringes. More details.

New mosquito raises malaria stakes in Africa
Scientists who discovered a new mosquito in Burkina Faso (Africa) believe it may be a highly efficient carrier of the malaria parasite. The mosquito is a previously unknown subgroup of Anopheles gambiae, the species responsible for most of the malaria transmission in 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.
Source = Travelvax
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