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– Red faces over Yellow fever
– Conditions were ideal for Haiti’s epidemic, say experts
– Rio’s dengue epidemic intensifies
– Unvaccinated tourists blamed for record measles
– New Caledonia grapples with Chikungunya outbreak
– Puppy love hinders Bali’s rabies fight
– Garbage brings dogs, dogs bring rabies
– UK campuses hit by mumps
– Taiwan gets tough over imported diseases
– Malaria strikes stranded refugees
– Carjackers’ nasty surprise may get even nastier
Red faces over Yellow fever
KENYA: Kenya’s Medical Research Institute has refuted reports last week of an outbreak of yellow fever in Rift Valley’s Baringo district. Lab tests by the institute proved that neither yellow fever, dengue fever, nor West Nile fever were responsible for the death of two haemorrhagic fever patients with yellow fever-like symptoms. Earlier, a district hospital superintendant reportedly told journalists a post-mortem had confirmed yellow fever, and that another 9 patients had tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease. Investigations into the cause of the deaths are continuing. More details.
Conditions were ideal for cholera epidemic, say experts
HAITI: While stopping short of blaming UN soldiers from Nepal, independent experts have confirmed Haiti’s devastating cholera epidemic began in a river tributary near their inland base. In a much-anticipated report, the panel said conditions were ideal for the epidemic after the January (2010) earthquake and the bacteria took just days to reach the coast. There have now been 3more than 300,000 cases and 4500 deaths since October. As Haiti’s rainy season approaches, there are fears the toll will rise sharply, and the UN has appealed for donors to honor pledges of financial support. More details.
Rio’s dengue epidemic intensifies
In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro City’s dengue epidemic is intensifying, with 4330 dengue cases in the week to May 5 bringing the year’s total to 34,734. The total in Rio de Janeiro state has risen to 77,260.
Sa o Paolo is the other Brazilian state battling multiple epidemics, notably in the cities of Rio Claro, Tambau, Sertaozinho, Presidente Prudente, and Sorocaba.
Low level transmission continues in Argentina, with the highest incidence in Santa Fe (169 cases). Other affected provinces include Buenos Aires (15 cases), Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires (7), Chaco (1), Formosa (3), La Rioja (1), Neuquen (1), Mendoza (1), and Salta (19).
Saudi Arabia’s capital, Jeddah recorded 64 new cases, while a rapid response by local health authorities has contained the outbreak in Pearl City (Oaku, Hawaii).
More details.
Advice to travellers: Dengue is a significant health risk in Latin America and Australian travellers should be aware of the risk mosquito bites may present. The daytime-feeding mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus inhabit urban areas, including hotels and resorts. Cover up and apply an insect repellent with an effective active ingredient when outdoors. The most effective repellents are those containing DEET (30-50%), Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Unvaccinated tourists blamed for record measles
Authorities in the Canary Islands say unvaccinated British and German tourists are responsible for the islands’ worst measles outbreak in a decade, with 25 new cases in the last month.
In Germany, measles is spreading in Frankfurt. Of the 45 recent cases, 13 were young adults, 11 of whom have been hospitalised.
France’s epidemic has crossed the Alps into Switzerland, which has recorded 337 cases this year – 4 times higher than for all of 2010. Nearly half were in Geneva, with another 78 in Vaud.
Chile& #8217;s government has acted swiftly after 3 cases in Santiago. The outbreak is the first in 8 years, prompting authorities to begin revaccinating 1.5 million people.
With 89 cases, the USA is also heading for 10-year high - virtually all of them ‘imported’ from abroad, particularly Europe. Outbreaks are occurring in California, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Utah. The US typically gets 50 cases a year.
More details.
Advice to travellers: Regardless of their destination, all Australian travellers who have not had measles or have not received two documented doses of live virus vaccine should consider a booster as part of their pre-travel vaccination regime. Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe illness. As part of their pre-travel medical preparations, we also recommend travellers check their immunisation status for whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps, and polio 4-6 weeks before departure.
New Caledonia grapples with Chikungunya
A sprinkling of new cases of Chikungunya fever within and outside the capital, Noumea in recent weeks have authorities concerned, although they have stopped short of declaring an epidemic. Mosquito control measures have included spraying insecticide aboard Air Caledonia flights departing from Noumea, and monitoring the health of Tahiti-bound passengers. More details.
Advice to travellers: This low-level outbreak presents little risk to travellers. There is no vaccine for Chikungunya and travellers to New Caledonia should take measures to avoid bites when outdoors. The virus is spread by 2 species of daytime-feeding, Aedes m osquitoes. Cover up and regularly apply an insect repellent containing effective active ingredients, such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, to exposed skin at all times when outdoors. Read more on prevention, transmission, symptoms and treatment.
Puppy love hinders Bali’s rabies fight
A Balinese youth bitten by a dog a year ago became the latest victim of rabies last week. Head of the Provincial Health Agency said on average 135 Balinese are bitten each day. Officially, there have now been 147 fatalities since the epidemic began in 2008, although animal activists say the number is actually between 150-180. They want resources to be focused on building ‘herd immunity’ through vaccination, rather than culling dogs. They say dog-loving Balinese quickly replace euthanized pets with unvaccinated puppies, which they now hide from authorities. More details.
Meanwhile, given the number of people being bitten, authorities have admitted the island’s supply of anti-rabies vaccine will gone by August, BaliDiscovery reports. More details.
Advice to travellers: While rabies is a low risk for short-stay travellers to Bali and most rabies-endemic areas, the potential for exposure increases the longer the stay – especially for children. Travellers should avoid contact with dogs and other domestic or wild animals, and seek urgent post-exposure treatment if bitten. Rabies immunoglobulin for rapid post-exposure treatment is in short supply worldwide.
Garbage brings dogs, dogs bring rabies
MEXICO: Accumulated garbage in streets has been blamed for an outbreak of rabies in Tizayuca (southern Hildalgo State), prompting a ma ssive door-to-door vaccination campaign in the affected area. More details.
UK campuses hit by mumps
Students across northwest England have been advised to check their vaccination records after 82 cases of mumps at 2 universities. More details.
Taiwan gets tough over imported diseases
TAIWAN: German measles (rubella) is at a 12-year high, with 25 of the 34 cases this year linked to inbound and outbound overseas travel. Most eminated from Vietnam, which has recorded more than 1000 rubella cases in five months. The Taiwanese government plans to get tough on foreign labourers and exchange students by making immunisation certificates a condition of entry . More details.
Malaria strikes stranded refugees
SOUTH AFRICA: Malaria has struck desperate Somali refugees stranded in Beitbridge, one of Africa’s busiest border towns. Although South Africa has denied them entry, it has provided hospital treatment. More details.
Advice to travellers: P.falciparum of malaria is present South Africa’s far north and throughout urban and regional areas of sub-Saharan African countries. We strongly recommend anti-malaria medication for most travel to the region. All travellers should also cover up and apply an insect repellent containing DEET (30-50%), Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus at all times when outdoors.
Carjackers’ nasty surprise may get even nastier
SOUTH AFRICA: A shipment of potentially infectious poliovirus destined for a research centre was hijacked in Johannesburg last week. No doubt, the thieves didn’t realize the box contained stool specimens from the Congo being sent for polio testing. Although police recovered the vehicle, the shipment was missing. Carjacking is common in South Africa, which has crime rates among the world’s highest. There were almost 14,000 carjackings last year. 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.
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