Latest health alerts for international travelers
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AVIAN INFLUENZA in CAMBODIA, CHINA, EGYPT, INDONESIA, VIETNAM
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Cambodia 10 cases and 8 deaths have been confirmed to date. In China 1 death has been confirmed so far this year. In Egypt the number of cases confirmed since the beginning of 2006 is 110, so far 34 have been fatal. In 2009 alone 39 cases and 4 deaths were reported. In Indonesia 167 cases have been confirmed since the outbreak started in 2005, with 138 of them being fatal. In Vietnam 119 cases and 59 deaths have been confirmed to date. Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans. However, there have been instances of certain highly pathogenic strains causing severe respiratory disease in humans. In most cases, the people infected had been in close contact with infected poultry or with objects contaminated by their faeces.
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CHIKUNGUNYA in GABON, INDONESIA, MADAGASCAR, MALAYSIA, MALDIVE ISLANDS, MYANMAR, REUNION ISLAND, SINGAPORE, THAILAND
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Gabon Africa 303 cases have been confirmed this year. In Indonesia (Lampung) almost 20,000 cases were reported from January to February [2010]. In Malaysia 549 cases have been reported so far this year. The latest outbreak in Madagascar has spread rapidly since mid-February 2010; there have been over 2000 cases reported. In the Maldive Islands 3 confirmed cases have been documented since 2006 to the present. In Myanmar (Burma) chikungunya has been spreading rapidly. In the Saint-Paul region of Reunion Island 115 cases have been confirmed this year. In Thailand 123 cases have been reported in 13 provinces so far this year. In India cases have been reported from most districts. In Tamil Nadu 63 cases have been confirmed and more than 100 cases in the South Goa district have been reported. In Reunion Island 103 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported this year. In Hanoi Vietnam 6750 people have been admitted to hospitals since the beginning of 2009. Chikungunya occurs during the rainy season in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, southern India, and Pakistan. Chikungunya fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread to people through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms can include sudden fever, joint pain with or without swelling, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, lower back pain, and a rash. Travelers should use mosquito nets when sleeping and apply mosquito repellents.
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CHOLERA in AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, BENIN, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, ETHIOPIA, INDIA, IRAQ, KENYA, MOZAMBIQUE, NAMIBIA, NIGER, NIGERIA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, SENEGAL, SOUTH AFRICA, SUDAN, TANZANIA, THAILAND, UGANDA, VIETNAM, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Afghanistan at least 673 cases and 28 deaths have been reported since July 2009. In the Dhaka District of Bangladesh 1206 people were hospitalized in March 2010. In Benin 66 cases and 4 deaths were reported this year. The D.R. of Congo reports 5483 cases and 120 deaths to date. In Ethiopia cholera is killing hundreds of people in West Arsi, East Shewa, West Hararghe and North Shewa and Arsi zones. In Gujarat, India 7 cases and 1 death has been reported so far this year. In Tamil Nadu India 4 deaths have been reported this year. Iraq reports 892 cases and 11 deaths to date. In Kenya 663 cases and 15 deaths have been confirmed this year. In Mozambique 2600 cases and 42 deaths have been reported so far this year. Namibia reports 2168 cases with 13 deaths to date. Niger has had 13,276 cases with 6 deaths reported to date. In Nigeria (Federal Capital Territory) 118 cases and at least 4 deaths have been reported in 2010 so far. In Papua New Guinea 1900 cases and about 40 deaths have been reported to date. In the past few weeks 991 cases have been reported in Central Province alone. Senegal has had 2231 cases with 12 deaths reported to date. South Africa reports 720 cases with 22 deaths to date. Sudan reports over 6000 cases and over 44 deaths to date. In Tanzania at least 60 deaths have been reported in the Mwanza Region since October 2009. In Thailand 982 cases have been reported so far this year. In Eastern Uganda at least 50 cases and 6 deaths have been reported this year. In Nothern Vietnam 106 cases have been reported this year in 5 provinces. In Southern Vietnam 25 cases have been reported in the Mekong Delta Province. Zambia has reported 264 cholera cases and 11 deaths since October 2009. Zimbabwe has reported 156 cases and 5 deaths since September 2009. Follow the food and water precautions covered in the travel consultation.
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CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER in AFGHANISTAN, KOSOVO, RUSSIA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Afghanistan 7 cases have been confirmed so far this year. Kosovo has reported 4 deaths due to CCHF this year. In Rostov Russia 11 confirmed cases have been reported this year. In the oblast 25 cases have been confirmed. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is transmitted to humans through infected ticks. Signs and symptoms of the disease include: sudden onset of high fever, headache, backache, and abdominal pain; small hemorrhages of the eyes; and a type of rash in the mouth and on the trunk of the body.
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DENGUE FEVER in ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, BRUNEI, CAPE VERDE, CAMBODIA, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, FRENCH GUIANA, GABON, GUADELOUPE, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, INDIA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, MARTINIQUE, MAYOTTE, MYANMAR, MEXICO, NEPAL, NICARAGUA, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, PHILIPPINES, PUERTO RICO, SAINT MARTIN, SAINT BARTHELEMY, SAUDI ARABIA, SRI LANKA, TAIWAN, TANZANIA, THAILAND, USA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, VENEZUELA, VIETNAM, YEMEN
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- Dengue Fever cases have been on the rise worldwide. Increasing cases and deaths have been reported this year in South America, Central America, Africa, South East Asia, Caribbean and the Middle East. Dengue fever causes the same symptoms as flu and other kinds of fever and then developing in critical conditions such as hemorrhage, vomiting, or faster heartbeats. Travelers going to areas where dengue is present should promptly seek medical care if illness occurs when they return home and inform their health care provider of their recent travel. Persons traveling to areas where dengue is endemic should use insect repellents, wear protective clothing, and reside in facilities with screens and air conditioning when available. No vaccine is available for preventing dengue infection.
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EARTHQUAKE RELIEF in HAITI
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- Volunteers traveling to Haiti to help with earthquake relief efforts should be aware and properly protected against diseases that arise after a disaster. Increased incidence of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Polio, Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis, Tuberculosis and Measles, Mumps, Rubella have been reported. With water supplies being stalled and contaminated, the risks of waterborne disease outbreaks are likely. People who do not have a clear history of having had their routine childhood immunizations are at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases that are uncommon in the United States, but common in Haiti. The potential new mass of displaced persons could create crowded, unsanitary conditions that facilitate the spread of contagious infections. Haiti has the highest tuberculosis rate in the Americas, and health experts say it is about to drastically increase. In normal times, Haiti sees about 30,000 new cases of tuberculosis each year. There is risk of Dengue Fever and Malaria outbreaks as well. Both are endemic in Haiti. Thus, displaced persons living outdoors or in temporary shelters and thousands of emergency responders in Haiti are at substantial risk for malaria and Dengue Fever. So far, CDC received reports of 11 laboratory-confirmed cases malaria and high rates of dengue infection acquired in Haiti. Most patients with malaria will present with fever, chills, and headache. Dengue, another mosquito-borne infection, presents with similar signs and symptoms as malaria, along with severe myalgias.
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HEPATITIS B in INDIA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Gujarat India there were 92 deaths reported, most between 15 and 45 years old. In the Sabarkantha district cases climbed to 43 with the report of 5 new deaths. From Modesa town and nearby villages 6 new cases of hepatitis have been registered to date.
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JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS in AUSTRALIA, BANGLADESH, CAMBODIA, CHINA, INDIA, INDONESIA, KOREA, LAOS, MALAYSIA, MYANMAR, NEPAL, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, SRI LANKA, TAIWAN, THAILAND, VIETNAM
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- Japanese encephalitis is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia with 30-50,000 cases reported annually. In the Uttar Pradesh state of India there have been 210 cases reported so far this year. In Assam India 78 deaths have been reported in 8 districts since April(2009). In Manipur India at least 16 persons have died of suspected Japanese encephalitis, and more than 100 others are undergoing treatment. In Taiwan 14 cases have been reported this year. In Vietnam 7 deaths have been reported within the last month. A total of 120 cases have been reported this year. According the the CDC, countries which have had major epidemics in the past, but which have controlled the disease primarily by vaccination, include China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. Other countries that still have periodic epidemics include Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Nepal, and Malaysia. Travelers are encouraged to consider JE vaccination prior to travel and to use mosquito repellents containing DEET on exposed skin and Permethrin on outer clothing.
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MALARIA in DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, GEORGIA, INDIA, INDONESIA, KENYA, MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AFRICA, VENEZUELA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- The Dominican Republic continues to have cases among both the local and tourist population (Punta Cana). In [the Republic of] Georgia 6 tropical malaria cases have been registered to date. Bijapur has reported 436 cases, Bagalkot 74, Koppal 275, Chitradurga 15 and Tumkur 214. Five districts in Karnataka India have reported outbreaks of malaria recently. In Kerala India 82 cases have been reported this year. In Mumbai India 22,159 cases have been reported this year. In Papua Indonesia Officials are investigating reports of a malaria outbreak which is said to have killed 40 people over the last 3 months. Malaria transmission has increased on Mount Kenya. In the past 20 years, the average temperature on the mountain has risen by 2-degrees Centigrade, allowing the disease to crop up in the higher altitude areas. In Malaysia thousands of people in villages along the Baram and Silat Rivers are being threatened by an outbreak of malaria. In Mindanao Philippines 43 cases have been reported this year. Limpopo South Africa more that 947 people have been diagnosed with malaria since the start of the rainy season, and numbers are expected to soar. In Venezuela 21,601 cases have been confirmed this year. Tropical malaria manifests with flu-like symptoms and high fever. The CDC is recommending prophylactic anti-malarial medications as well as mosquito repellents containing DEET on exposed skin and Permethrin on outer clothing, mosquito netting and bedding.
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MAYARO VIRUS DISEASE in VENEZUELA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In the Portuguesa state of Venezuela 77 cases have been reported this year. Mayaro virus disease is transmitted by mosquitos. It is similar to dengue, not fatal, but the consequences of which can last for months. What makes Mayaro fever serious, and the real difference from dengue, is that it can appear with arthritis, causing strong inflammation and joint pain, even to the point of incapacitation in people for up to 6 months. Mayaro virus disease is endemic in humid tropical forests in South America such as those in Trinidad, Surinam, French Guayana, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela.
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MEASLES in BURKINA FASO, CAMEROON, CANADA, CHAD, CONGO, FRANCE, GERMANY, GUINEA, LIBERIA, MALAWI, MALI, MAURITANIA, NAMIBIA, NEW ZEALAND, NIGERIA, PHILIPPINES, RUSSIA, SENEGAL, SIERRA LEONE, SOUTH AFRICA, SPAIN, TAIWAN, YEMEN, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Eastern and Southern Africa 14 countries have been affected by a measles outbreak; 47,907 cases and 731 deaths have been reported so far this year. In Burkina Faso 1258 cases and 10 deaths have been reported so far this year. In Cameroon 1338 cases and 6 deaths have been reported this year. In British Columbia Canada 44 cases have been reported this year. In Chad 5832 cases and 79 deaths have been reported this year. In Congo 3976 cases and 13 deaths have been confirmed so far this year. In France 2000 cases have been reported this year. Since early 2010, Berlin Germany has been experiencing a measles outbreak with 62 cases reported so far. In Guinea 1013 cases and 12 deaths have been reported this year. In Liberia 1341 cases and 34 deaths have been reported this year. In Malawi 12,000 cases and 70 deaths have been reported this year. In Mali 774 cases and 1 death has been reported this year. In Mauritania 863 cases and 9 deaths have been reported this year. In Namibia there have been 1081 cases and 13 deaths reported. In New Zealand's Northland district 5 cases have been confirmed so far out of 30 suspected cases. In Nigeria 3804 cases and 26 deaths have been reported this year. The Philippines have already recorded a total of 1794 cases and 8 deaths this year. In Amur Oblast 78 cases have been reported since April 2010. In Senegal 560 cases have been reported this year. In Sierra Leone 351 cases and 1 death have been reported this year. In South Africa, the number of measles cases in Western Cape has increased dramatically. Over 1000 new cases and over a dozen deaths have been reported in the last 15 months. In Eastern Cape there have been 314 total cases and 3 deaths. More than 100 cases of measles had been reported in Cape Town since October [2009]. In Murcia Spain 65 cases have been reported since February of this year. In Taipei Taiwan 3 cases have been confirmed this year. In Yemen 157 cases have been confirmed this year in Saada Province. In Zambia 3000 cases and at least 62 deaths have been reported since the beginning of this year. In Zimbabwe 3285 suspected cases and 200 deaths have been reported countrywide. Vaccination with MMR is recommended at least 2 weeks prior to traveling to these regions. It is recommended that you receive an adult booster if you haven't had measles and you have only had your childhood immunizations.
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MENINGITIS in BRAZIL, BURKINA FASO, CHAD, GHANA, MEXICO, NIGERIA, RUSSIA, TOGO
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Bahia Brazil 330 cases and 39 deaths have been reported this year. In Burkina Faso 5118 cases and 718 deaths have been reported so far this year. In Southern Chad 517 cases and 56 deaths have been reported since the beginning of this year. In Upperwest Ghana 96 cases and 17 deaths have been reported this year. In Mexico (Baja California) more than 20 cases have been reported this year. Nigeria has reported 1500 cases, including 156 deaths so far this year. In Kaliningrad Russia 10 cases have been reported in the past 4 months. In Togo 108 cases and 25 deaths have been reported this year. Vaccination prior to travel is recommended for travelers to these areas.
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MUMPS in CANADA, ENGLAND, GUAM, ISRAEL, MACEDONIA(FYROM), NETHERLANDS, USA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- Canada reports 200+ cases in the Fraser Valley. In England (Sussex County) 112 cases have been confirmed this year. In Guam 142 cases have been confirmed since the end of March 2010. In Israel 2400 cases of mumps have been reported in the Jerusalem district and 3400 nationally. In Macedonia-FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) there were 234 cases of mumps reported. In Netherlands 172 cases, among students, have been confirmed since the beginning of this year. In the USA 2106 cases have been reported this year, with 87 percent of those from New York and New Jersey. Mumps is caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, especially the salivary glands. It can lead to inflammation and swelling of the brain and other organs. It can cause deafness and leave men sterile. It is recommended that you receive an adult booster if you haven't had mumps and you have only had your childhood immunizations.
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OROPOUCHE FEVER in BRAZIL, ECUADOR, PANAMA, PERU, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July 10'- Outbreaks of the Oropouche fever virus have been described in rural and urban communities of Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. In San Martin Peru 282 cases have been reported; 41 of them laboratory-confirmed. Oropouche Fever is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of a particular fly. Oropouche fever produces symptoms similar to dengue. The onset of symptoms is sudden, usually with a fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, chills, sometimes nausea, and persistent vomiting up to 5-7 days.
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POLIO in AFGHANISTAN, ANGOLA, CHAD, HAITI, INDIA, LIBERIA, MAURITANIA, NIGERIA, PAKISTAN, RUSSIA, SAUDI ARABIA, SENEGAL, TAJIKISTAN
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Afghanistan 10 cases have been reported so far this year. In Angola 15 cases have been reported this year. In Chad 7 cases have been confirmed so far this year. In India 19 cases have been confirmed so far this year. In Liberia 1 case has been confirmed so far this year. In Mauritania 4 cases have been confirmed so far this year. In Nigeria 3 cases have been confirmed this year. In Pakistan 13 cases have been confirmed so far this year. In Russia's Far Eastern Khabarovsk Territory the 1st polio case in the past 30 years has been registered. Saudi Arabia now requires proof of current vaccination for all persons less than 15 years of age entering the country. Adults should receive a one-time polio booster and all children should be current with their vaccinations prior to traveling. In Senegal 13 cases have been confirmed so far this year. In Tajikistan 430 cases and 19 deaths have been confirmed since the beginning of this year.
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PERTUSSIS in NEW ZEALAND, USA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Kaikoura, New Zealand 15 cases have been confirmed since the beginning of April 2010. In California 1500 cases have been reported and 6 babies -- all under 3 months of age -- have died from the disease this year. In Idaho 77 cases have been reported this year. In Ohio 36 cases have been reported this year. In the USA, nationally there have been more than 4000 cases of whooping cough this year. Children should be vaccinated against the disease and parents, family members and caregivers of infants need a booster shot.
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RABIES in ANGOLA, AZERBAIJAN, BRAZIL, CHINA, INDIA, INDONESIA, ISRAEL, RUSSIA, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, USA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Angola 580 cases and 4 deaths have been reported this year. In Azerbaijan 1 death has been reported in the Aghdam Region this year. China averages more than 2400 deaths from rabies infections annually. Indonesia (Bali) reports 58 confirmed deaths since the outbreak started in 2008. There is a shortage of vaccine. Consequently, travelers to Bali should vaccinate prior to departure. Otherwise, if bitten, they will need to fly home, or to an Asian center such as Bangkok, Singapore, or Hong Kong to get proper post-exposure treatment. In Israel (Galilee & Golan) 11 cases have been reported since the beginning of this year. In Russia about 5000 cases have been reported this year. In Sri Lanka 1 death has been reported this year in Puttalam. In Thailand 13 people have died from rabies so far this year. Travelers to these areas should consider the pre-exposure rabies prophylaxis vaccination series. World wide there are approximately 55,000 deaths per year.
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RIFT VALLEY FEVER in SAUDI ARABIA, SOUTH AFRICA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Najran, Saudi Arabia 1 case has been reported. In South Africa 221 cases and 23 deaths have been confirmed this year so far. Most human infections result from contact with the blood or organs of infected animals. It can also be caught from the bites of infected mosquitoes or other flies. All travelers should take appropriate precautions against mosquito bites, such as the use of mosquito nets and insect repellents. Travelers should avoid coming into contact with animal tissues or blood, avoid drinking unpasteurized or uncooked milk or eating raw meat, especially those intending to visit farms and/or game reserves. The virus usually causes relatively mild flu-like symptoms and neck stiffness in people, progressing sometimes to hallucinations, dizziness or even coma. A small percentage of victims develop a hemorrhagic form which causes them to vomit blood, pass blood in feces, or bleed from the nose, gums, or skin. If fever develops within a month after leaving South Africa, a physician should be visited and made aware of the travel history.
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SCRUB TYPHUS in INDIA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- Scrub typhus, a disease caused by the bites of ticks or mites [usually mites, also called "chiggers"], has claimed 5 lives in Meghalaya India and affected more than 80 people, particularly in the rural areas of the state. Soon after the bite of the mites or ticks, the patients develop fever. The portions where the mites or ticks bite initially become reddish and then change into black spots. It is important to apply repellents containing permethrin and/or deet when in rural areas.
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SWINE FLU in WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- The Pandemic Level is currently a 6 out of 6. Worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 18,366 deaths. WHO says the actual death toll is probably much higher. Though 2,498 confirmed American deaths had been reported to the CDC as of January 30, the agency estimates that between 8,330 and 17,160 people have actually died. Due to the circulation of 2009 H1N1 influenza in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some foreign countries may check the health of arriving passengers. If you are sick with symptoms of flu-like illness, you should not travel. In other countries that are conducting entry screenings, travelers may be checked for fever and other symptoms of H1N1, and their travel may be delayed. Consult the embassy of the country, or countries, in your travel itinerary for information about entry screening procedures. These outbreak-related delays, which could include several days of quarantine, may affect planned activities and lead to unexpected costs. Swine Influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A Influenza Viruses. There is no evidence to show that swine flu can be transmitted through food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Travelers should receive an H1N1 vaccine.
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TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS in CROATIA, RUSSIA, SWEDEN
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In mostly rural areas of Croatia 11 cases have been reported this year. In Russia more than 3000 cases have been reported so far this year. In Vologda Oblast, Russia alone a total of 9 cases have been reported this year. In Central Sweden 9 cases have been reported this year since the end of April. Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infectious disease affecting the central nervous system. A mild fever can also occur. Travelers should apply tick-repellents and inspect themselves afterwards when spending time in a tick-infested area.
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TYPHOID FEVER in FIJI, INDONESIA, NEPAL, PAKISTAN, UGANDA
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Fiji the typhoid outbreak continues to rise, bringing the total number of cases to 112. The Centre for Health Protection urges travelers to Indonesia to guard against typhoid fever due rising cases of the disease in people arriving from the country recently. In Nepal 40 Israeli travelers who were traveling in the [Russian] Far East became ill with Typhoid Fever. Pakistan currently experience 1000 cases of Typhoid Fever per 100,000 of population per year. Uganda reports 90 cases with 20 dead in the Kasese area since July '08. Travelers are encouraged by local health officials to get the Typhoid vaccine prior to traveling to these and other endemic regions and to exercise food and water precautions.
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YELLOW FEVER in CAMEROON, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CONGO DR, COTE D'IVOIRE
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07/30/2010 09:33 PM
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July '10- In Cameroon 3 cases of yellow fever in Banjoun and Fantun districts of the country's Western Region have been reported this year. Central African Republic [CAR] have reported 4 suspected cases of yellow fever, including 3 deaths. In Democratic Republic of Congo 12 cases and 2 deaths have been reported this year. In Cote d'Ivoire's northern province of Ordienne local health officials have reported 37 suspected cases and a total 21 deaths since the disease was detected in November 2009. The WHO and Ivorian authorities have declared an epidemic in the Denguele region (in the far north, bordering on Mali) with 36 suspected cases and 19 deaths. Yellow Fever is a mosquito born disease found in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazon region of South America. This disease can be prevented with vaccination.
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