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– Germany begins to count cost of E.coli catastrophe
– Travel continues to fuel measles’ global march
– Measles touches down in Perth
– Children are victims in Vietnam’s HFMD epidemic
– Plans to tackle Mumbai’s malaria
– Kolkata hit by disease
– Fears of polio as pilgrims heed call to Mecca
– Hajj vaccine requirements unchanged for Australian Muslims
– Dengue takes a back seat
– Chikungunya hits Republic of Congo
– Cameroon struggles to contain cholera
– Mumps cases on the rise in Whistler
Germany begins to count cost of E.coli catastrophe
German and international experts are now virtually certain contaminated sprouts caused the massive E.coli poisoning. While a trickle of cases continues, no further deaths are anticipated. As of yesterday, there had been 809 cases (23 deaths) of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and 2447 cases (12 deaths) of less severe Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) since May 2. Cases have been recorded in 13 countries. Along with statistics, this posting offers a graphic insight into the impact this catastrophic health event had on Germany’s medical community. More details.
Advice to travellers: German authorities continue to recommend travellers avoid raw bean and seed sprouts of any origin. They have now lifted earlier advice not to eat cucumbers, tomatoes, and leafy salad vegetables.
Travel continues to fuel measles’ global march
In Canada, Quebec’s ‘imported’ measles outbreak is accelerating rapidly. In the last fortnight, the province has had 208 cases, taking the year’s total to 254. Travellers returning from holidays in France sparked the outbreak, which has been contained within Quebec. Until this year, Canada annual average was 11 cases.
With around 120 measles cases to date, the USA is on track for a record year. Most cases originated from Southern Asia, Africa and Europe. Health officials in New York City last week warned low-level measles transmission is continuing in the Big Apple. There are also outbreaks in California (Humboldt County), Maryland (Catonsville), Utah (Cache County), and Vermont. Minnesota’s worst measles outbreak in many years is over, with 14 of the 23 people infected requiring hospital treatment.
In New Zealand, health officials ordered precautionary quarantining of 80 children in their homes last week to prevent the spread of measles after an infected 8-year-old boy attended a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean at an Auckland cinema. Subsequent tests found 7 more people were infected, including the boy’s sibling and 6 students from his school. None had been immunised. Local measles transmission is also continuing in the Hawke’s Bay area, with 14 of the 18 cases occurring in Hastings.
Europe’s measles epidemic has reached Spain’s Basque region (Gipuzko).
In Africa, Algeria (M'sila) and Sudan (West Darfur) are the latest countries with outbreaks. In contrast to many of its neighbours, measles rates are dropping in Mozambique, thanks to concerted immunisation campaigns.
More detail s.
Advice to travellers: 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 – regardless of their destination. Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that can cause severe illness. Travelvax recommends travellers check their immunisation status for childhood diseases such as whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps, and polio, as part of their pre-travel medical preparations.
Measles touches down in Perth
Imported measles has landed in Perth. WA Health issued public warnings over the weekend after four infected people attended schools, clubs, medical surgeries, and 2 hospital emergency departments in the state capital last week. An adult was infected in the Philippines, while a child infected in Thailand passed on the highly contagious virus to 2 siblings before the infection was detected. More details.
Children are victims in Vietnam’s HFMD epidemic
Vietnam’s epidemic of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is accelerating, particularly in the south. Last week 1200 cases of HFMD were recorded in 28 provinces and cities countrywide. The surge brings the 2011 total to 7300, including 26 deaths – an increase of 40% over last year. Most of the victims were young children. Hospital admission rates have been highest in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces of Dong Thap, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Tien Giang. More details.
Advice to travellers: HFMD infection mainly occurs in children. It is spread by direct contact with infected persons, or with virus-contaminated surfaces. Good hygiene practices reduce the risk of infection. There is no vaccine or preventative medication.
Plans to tackle Mumbai’s malaria
In India, reports continue of malaria in Mumbai. Municipal authorities in the country’s financial capital have announced plans to address the rising incidence of the disease, which is linked to city's hundreds of construction sites and slums. More details.
Advice to travellers: As advised in April, malaria rates in Mumbai and Pune State have been at a 7-year high in the last 12 months, with the capital accounting for two thirds of the 185 deaths and 138,605 cases statewide. Local experts warn malaria, dengue and Chikungunya cases are largely under-reported. Malaria is present year-round in rural and urban areas of India. Travelvax recommends travellers discuss their itinerary and preventative malaria medication at their nearest Travelvax clinic, or with their healthcare provider. For advice, call Travelvax's toll-free Travel Health Advisory Service on 1300 360 164.
Kolkata hit by disease
Meanwhile, thousands of Kolkata city residents are ill with an unknown ‘viral fever’, according to the Times of India. A variety of symptoms has led experts to suggest concurrent outbreaks of malaria, Chikungunya fever, and a respiratory virus in the former Calcutta. More details.
Fears of polio as pilgrims heed call to Mecca
Polio is on the rise in Chad and there are growing fears it will replace Nigeria as the main ‘exporter’ of the disease in North Africa, one of polio’s last remaining strongholds. Outbreaks of wild poliovirus types 1 (65 cases) and 3 (3 cases), have been reported this year, most recently from Chad's southern Logone Occidental region. Muslim pilgrims are beginning to move across west and central Africa to attend Ramadan (August) and the Hajj (November) in Saudi Arabia. The WHO believes there is a high risk that polio will spread and has issued new travel advisories.
In Pakistan, 2 new cases in Peshawar and Bannu brought this year’s total to 49. Global Polio Eradication Initiative figures also reveal polio in Afghanistan (1 case) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (4).
More details.
Hajj vaccine requirements unchanged for Australian Muslims
Australian Muslims making the pilgrimage to Mecca for the Hajj this November will be required to show proof of vaccination against seasonal influenza and meningococcal meningitis to obtain an entry visa into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
However, Hajj pilgrims from nominated countries will also be required to show proof of vaccination against polio and yellow fever.
Dengue takes a back seat
For the first time in months, there have been only a handful of reports of Dengue fever from tropical regions this week. These include news from Brazil’s Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Norte states, and from Philippines (Negros Occidental province). More details.
Advice to travellers: Australian travellers need to be wary of mosquito bites in the tropics. We advise travellers 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. The aedes mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus inhabit urban areas, including leading hotels and resorts, and bite mainly during the day.
Chikungunya hits Republic of Congo
In the Republic of Congo, more than 480 cases of chikungunya virus were recorded in the southern districts of Brazzaville last week. It is the first time the mosquito-borne disease has been recorded in the West African country, according to ProMED. The disease surveillance network notes there have also never been reports of Chikungunya in Mali, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, and Gabon, as mentioned in this media report.
Advice to travellers: With P.falciparum malaria highly endemic in West Africa, the arrival of Chikungunya is another reason to take all measures to avoid mosquito bites, including the use of an effective insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, to exposed skin at all times when outdoors. Travelvax strongly recommend Australian travellers to West Africa also consider taking malaria prevention medication. There is no vaccine or preventative medication for Chikungunya.
Cameroon struggles to contain cholera
The death toll from cholera continues to rise in Cameroon, with 256 fatalities from 7718 cases reported in 9 of the country’s 10 regions. However, in the hard hit Centre region, international aid efforts have stemmed the number of new cases. More details.
Advice to travellers: This extensive outbreak presents a significant risk and travellers to Cameroon should consider vaccination. They should also adhere to strict personal hygiene guidelines and choose only safe food and beverages. For most short stays in a cholera-endemic region, the risk to travellers is low. Call Travelvax on 1300 360 164 for advice on the risks for a particular journey, and whether vaccination should be considered.
Mumps on the rise in Whistler
With mumps on the rise at one of Canada’s premier ski resorts, local health authorities warn unimmunised young travellers looking for out-of-season jobs are at highest risk. There have been 50 cases in the resort in recent months, the majority among young men working in Whistler’s major industry, hospitality. More details.
Advice to travellers: Mumps is among the pre-travel vaccinations Travelvax routinely recommends to all travellers, particularly young adults. They should also check their immunisation status for measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, and polio 4-6 weeks before departure.
Travelvax Australia compiles this weekly bulletin of glob al 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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