Travel Health News
Visit our one of our clinics for a 10 minute travel vaccination consultation with a specialist travel health medical professional for £5 or free when you pay for any travel vaccination. Contact your nearest Nomad Travel Clinic for details.
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28th January 2010
RUSSIA – RABIES
28/1/2010
A rabid dog (now caught and euthanised) bit at least 14 people at a market in the Moscow region. All these individuals have been given post exposure rabies treatment but investigations are continuing to identify any other affected individuals.
Information to Travellers – A Pre exposure course of rabies vaccines consists of 3 vaccines administered over a 3 week period. Post exposure treatment for individuals who have not been previously vaccinated consists of immediate immunoglobulin (someone else’s antibodies) which is both difficult to obtain and very expensive, followed by 5 doses of vaccines administered on very specific days over a 1 month period. Pre exposure courses are recommended for travelers with limited access to good medical facilities or areas where immunoglobulin is not available.
19th January 2010
NAMIBIA – MEASLES
Over 1,000 people have now been affected in the last 5 months in Northern Namibia. Unfortunately a vaccination and information program has been hampered by a lack of vaccine and cars to get to the more remote areas. It appears as though the rates of infection are slowing but new cases continue to appear.
Advice to Travellers – Vaccination with MMR should be encouraged before travel if not previously administered
13th January 2010
NEPAL – TYPHOID
13/1/2010
40 travellers have been diagnosed with typhoid fever whilst in Eastern Russia. It is thought however that all 40 caught the disease from a single source in Pokhara in Nepal. They were hospitalised, treated successfully and repatriated. Typhoid is a bacterial disease transmitted through contaminated food and water that often causes constipation, high fever and a list of often very vague symptoms such as lethargy and headache.
Advice to Travellers – Good food and water hygiene precautions should be applied whenever travelling to developing countries using water purification tablets and ensuring food is hot and freshly prepared
7th January 2010
SOUTH AFRICA – MALARIA
7/1/2010
There have now been nearly 1,000 cases of malaria reported in Limpopo province, Northern south Africa. It is not yet being called an outbreak but the situation is expected to worsen. Over recent years the accepted areas of malaria risk has extended Westward from the Kruger National Park.
6th January 2010
CHINA – CONTAMINATION OF MILK PRODUCTS
4th January 2009
INDONESIA – CHIKUNGUNYA
Lampung Province in Southern Sumatra has reported 12,000 cases of Chikungunya in the last 2 weeks of 2009. Though very rarely fatal, Chikungunya is very similar to Dengue fever in that it can be totally debilitating with sufferers reporting that they have been bedridden for the duration of the disease with severe joint pains and often reporting that it was so bad that they felt paralysed. Advice for Travellers: Chikungunya is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, there is not medicine to prevent or treat the disease so bite avoidance using 50% DEET insect repellent is imperative.
30th December 2009
IVORY COAST – YELLOW FEVER
29/12/2009
A major epidemic of yellow fever continues to claim lives in the Northern states of Ivory coast. There are now 39 suspected cases, 12 confirmed but a total of 19 deaths. The country has instigated an emergency vaccination program expected to target 300,000 before 1st Jan.
Advice to Travellers - A yellow fever certificate is required from all travellers to the Ivory Coast over the age of 1 year. It will confer 10 years protection and is very effective. Some complications exist when giving to adults aged over 60years who have never had the vaccine before. Full advice should be sought from your GP or travel health specialist. Yellow Fever is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.
24th December 2009
INDIA – ENCEPHALITIS
24/12/2009
The numbers of individuals killed by encephalitis (literally swelling of the brain) has continued to rise this month in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (far Northern region of India bordering onto Nepal). There are several diseases in the area that cause encephalitis one of which is Japanese Encephalitis caused by a virus carried by infected mosquitoes. The good news is that due to the colder weather the number of mosquitoes in the area is decreasing and therefore the incidence of Japanese Encephalitis is also dropping.
Information to Travellers: Since Japanese encephalitis is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, bite avoidance using insect repellents and mosquito nets is the most important way to protect against this disease. There is also a vaccination available but since the disease is quite rare in travellers it would generally only be recommended to those spending a month in risk areas, during risk times or specific areas of known high risk. It consists of a course of 2 vaccines administered 28 days apart
23rd December 2009
BRAZIL – DENGUE FEVER
22/12/2009
The state of Minas Gerais (just North & West of Rio) has reported over 75,000 cases of Dengue Fever up to the month of October this year, 22,000 of these were in the city of Belo Horizonte.
Advice to Travellers: Dengue Fever is a very painful viral infection that has no specific treatment and in some cases can lead to life threatening complications. It is carried by a generally daytime biting mosquito so bite avoidance is the most important way to avoid getting this disease.
22nd December 2009
ISRAEL – RABIES
22/12/2009
An end of year report has shown that over the previous 12 months there have been over 50 cases of animal rabies reported compared to usual 10 or so seen each year. A majority of these cases have been in family pets (dogs) which represents a worrying trend as cases are usually seen in wild animals. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite or a lick onto an open wound. Once symptoms are evident, death is inevitable.
Advice to Travellers: a course of 3 injections given over 3-4 weeks before exposure to the virus makes treatment quicker, easier and cheaper. It should be considered for all travelers with limited access to medical facilities or areas where correct post exposure treatment may be unavailable
21st December 2009
ZIMBABWE – MEASLES
21/12/2009
340 people have now been caught up the current outbreak of measles.
Advice to travellers: Previous vaccination with the MMR vaccine should be encouraged before travel
16th December 2009
AUSTRALIA – DENGUE FEVER
16/12/2009
Queensland has now reported its 10th confirmed case of dengue fever. Dengue causes rash, fever and often a lot of pain in the joints and muscles.
Advice to Travellers: There is no vaccine or medicine to prevent this disease so bite avoidance is of the utmost importance. Especially during daylight hours when the mosquito carrying the virus that causes this disease generally feeds
11th December 2009
NETHERLANDS – Q-FEVER
10/12/2009 - As of 25 November, 2293 cases of Q-Fever have been reported, most of them in the southern rural province of Brabant. At least 6 people have died. Q-fever is caused by bacteria released when pregnant goats or sheep have spontaneous abortions.
MALAYSIA – DENGUE FEVER & CHIKUNGUNYA
16/12/2009
There have now been over 38,000 cases of dengue fever and 5,000 cases of chikungunya reported this year
Advice to Travellers: Both illnesses are carried by daytime biting mosquitoes, so bite avoidance using a 50% DEET insect repellent is vital
SOUTH AFRICA – RABIES & MEASLES
16/12/2009
Gautang province is currently experiencing the worst of the current measles outbreak having reported 1,300 new cases in the last month. South Africa has also noted its 15th confirmed case of rabies in a young man who was bitten by a dog in June
Advice to travellers: Previous vaccination with the MMR vaccine should be encouraged before travel especially in children travelling to watch sports over the coming months. There is also a very good vaccine that provides protection against the rabies virus. It is also important to know what to do if bitten by an animal that may be carrying the virus. Remember that they may appear docile and friendly or wild and ferocious – they both just as dangerous
DEMOCRATIC REBUBLIC OF CONGO – MENINGITIS
14/12/2009
Congo is currently experiencing an outbreak of Meningitis C with over 100 people affected in the city of Kisangani
Advice to Travellers: There is a vaccine effective against 4 strains of meningitis including meningitis C readily available. This vaccine should be given at least 2 weeks before travel
11th December 2009
MAURITANIA - POLIOMYELITIS
07/12/09 - Two new Poliomyelitis cases have been reported in Mauritania in the last week. The most recent onset of paralysis was on 1 Nov 2009 in Nouakchott.
Advice for Travellers: It is recommended that travellers have a Poliomyelitis booster or Diphtheria/Tetanus/Polio combined (course) if not already protected; they should also take precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.
KENYA – CHOLERA
7/12/2009 - An outbreak of Cholera has been reported from the northwest region of Turkana. World Vision has also announced that 119 people have died from Cholera throughout the country in the last month.
Advice for travellers: Travellers to outbreak areas who will be mixing closely with the local population and cannot ensure safe drinking water can be immunised against Cholera.
7th December 2009
INDIA – JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS
Two deaths from Japanese encephalitis have been reported during the past 24 hours in Uttar Pradesh. This brings the death toll to 552 due to this disease in 2009.
Advice to travellers: Vaccinations should be considered for visits to endemic areas, especially if staying in rural areas. Travellers should also take the necessary precautions for bite avoidance.
PHILLIPINES – ANTHRAX
Reports have confirmed that at least 50 people from Isabela, a remote village in the Philippines, have been hospitalized for the last 4 weeks after partaking of anthrax-contaminated water buffalo meat.
Advice to Travellers: Travellers should be aware that most cases occur due to close contact with infected animals in rural areas. Avoidance of souvenirs made from animal hide is advised.
EGYPT – AVIAN INFLUENZA
27/11/09 – A human case of avian influenza (H5N1) has been confirmed by the The Ministry of Health of Egypt. The victim is a 3 year-old boy from Minia Governorate and his condition is stable.
4th December 2009
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
04/12/09 Yellow fever – Following 3 recent deaths and a further case awaiting confirmation the Central African Rebublic has announced it will be starting an emergency Yellow Fever vaccination campaign early this month. These deaths follow 2 other yellow fever outbreaks earlier this year
Advice for Travellers: The Yellow Fever vaccine which is available from registered yellow fever centres only, is very effective but should given at least 10 days before exposure to the disease.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - Measles
27/11/09 - A national outbreak of Measles began in August 2009 and is currently ongoing in the Republic of Ireland. A total of 75 cases have been reported this year so far, with the majority of cases being among children of holidaymakers.
Advice for Travellers : Children should receive their recommended doses of MMR at 12-15 months of age and again at pre-school around 4-5 years. Unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves may consider vaccination if thought to be at risk. Two doses of MMR vaccine is required to give adequate protection.
25th November 2009
CAMEROON
24/11/09 Cholera - From the beginning of September and as of 9 Nov 2009, Cameroon has notified 315 cases of cholera inclufing 40 deaths in the Extreme Nord region
Advice for Travellers:
Travellers to outbreak areas who will be mixing closely with the local population and cannot ensure safe drinking water can be immunised against cholera
CAPE VERDE
24/11/09 Dengue fever (update) - The ongoing outbreak of dengue fever in Cape Verde is worsening. The Ministry of Health has reported 16 744 suspected cases.
INDIA
24/11/09 Dengue fever (update) - The outbreak of dengue fever in Delhi is ongoing.
MEXICO
24/11/09 Dengue fever (update) - Nationally, 105 000 suspected cases of dengue fever have been recorded in 2009; 50 000 of those have since been confirmed as dengue fever
TAIWAN
24/11/09 Dengue fever (update) - In the past week, more than 70 new cases of dengue fever were reported, bringing the total number of cases to 387 since the outbreak began in the summer.
Advice for travellers: Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by 'covering up' and the use of bite avoidance. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays.
19th November 2009
IVORY COAST
19/11/09 Yellow fever - Health Officials have confirmed three cases of yellow fever in the northwest Denguele region. A further seven suspected cases await laboratory confirmation.
AUSTRALIA
16/11/09 Hepatitis A - An ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A has been reported from the state of Victoria in southern Australia.
INDIA
16/11/09 Dengue fever (update)- 661 cases of dengue fever have been recorded in the capital Delhi so far this year.
Advice for travellers: Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by 'covering up' and the use of bite avoidance. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays.
NIGERIA
16/11/09 Cholera (update) - The cholera outbreak in Adawama State is ongoing with a further 200 infected cases and 20 deaths in the past week.
PAPA NEW GUINEA
16/11/09 Cholera (update) - The cholera outbreak has spread to the province of Madang with approximately 320 suspected cases and 32 confirmed cases.
Advice for Travellers: Travellers to outbreak areas who will be mixing closely with the local population and cannot ensure safe drinking water can be immunised against cholera.
PHILIPPINES
16/11/09 Measles - The Department of Health has reported a resurgance of measles cases in the Western Visayas with 41 laboratory confirmed cases this year. It is suspected that poor vaccination coverage has contributed to the rise of the disease.
Advice for Travellers : It should be confirmed that children have received their recommended doses of MMR at 12-15 months of age and again pre-school around 4-5 years, while unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves may consider vaccination if thought to be at risk. Two doses of MMR vaccine is required to give adequate protection.
2nd November 2009
INDIA
7 more children succumbed to the deadly encephalitis here today [1 Nov
2009], taking the toll of the viral fever in the district this year
[2009] to 471.
Japanese encephalitis is caused by mosquito bite, while acute
encephalitis syndrome spreads through contaminated water. Both affect
the central nervous system and brain causing paralysis and death
Advice for travellers: Japanese encephalitis vaccine is available for those considered to be at risk. Avoidance of mosquito bites by 'covering up', using insect repellent and impregnated bed nets is essential. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays.
29th October 2009
GHANA
Residents of the Bongo district and of communities within the Bolgatanga Municipal area in the Upper East Region are trembling in fear as rabies infested dogs have bitten and killed 6 people, with 2 others currently in critical condition
USA: (INDIANA)
Rabies
Indiana resident is state's 2nd rabies death in 50 years
State health officials say a southern Indiana resident is the 1st person to die of rabies in the state since 2006 -- and only the 2nd human case overall since 1959
Advice to travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care
28th October 2009
BOLIVIA
27/10/09 Dengue fever - Citizens and regional authorities are being urged to adopt measures to avoid a new dengue epidemic in the country
NICARAGUA
27/10/09 Dengue fever - As of 19 October 2009 1869 cases of dengue fever including 51 cases of DHF have been reported in Nicaragua, with 8 deaths resulting; children 5-14 years of age the most affected
VENEZUELA
27/10/09 Dengue fever - 35 744 cases have been reported in Venezuela during the most recent Dengue epidemic, with an increase of nearly 2000 cases since 26 Sep 2009
Advice for travellers: Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by 'covering up' and the use of bite avoidance. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays.
22nd October 2009
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
21/10/09 Dengue fever (update) - The Health Authorities have reported that since Sep 2009, a total of 900 dengue fever cases have been recorded in three provinces in the northern part of the country.
MEXICO
21/10/09 Dengue fever (update) - Dengue fever is ongoing in Jalisco state. The Secretariat of Health reported that there were 373 new dengue fever cases in the week 27 Sep - 3 Oct 2009.
Advice for travellers: Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by 'covering up' and the use of bite avoidance. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays.
20th October 2009
BURUNDI
19/10/09 Poliomyelitis - A case of poliomyelitis has been reported from Cibitoke Province; this is the first case in Burundi since 1999.
IVORY COAST
19/10/09 Poliomyelitis - One case of poliomyelitis has been reported in Ivory Coast this far in 2009; onset of paralysis was 6 August 2009.
LIBERIA
19/10/09 Poliomyelitis - A case of poliomyelitis has been reported in Liberia; date of onset of paralysis 17 August 2009.
13th October 2009
TANZANIA
12/10/09 Cholera - An outbreak of cholera has been reported from the northeast of the country. Around 600 cases have been recorded in the country in the past week; the worst affected area is Handeni district in the northeastern region of Tanga with 511 cases.
Advice for Travellers: Travellers to outbreak areas who will be mixing closely with the local population and cannot ensure safe drinking water can be immunised against cholera.
3rd October 2009
CAMEROON
02/10/09 Yellow Fever - On 8th September 2009, the Ministry of Health in Cameroon reported a laboratory confirmed case of yellow fever, identified through routine yellow fever surveillance.
SIERRA LEONE
19/10/09 Poliomyelitis - A case of poliomyelitis has been reported in Sierra Leone; date of onset of paralysis 28 July 2009.
Advice for Travellers: It is recommended that travellers to Nigeria have a poliomyelitis booster (or course) if not already protected and should take precautions with food, water and personal hygiene.
INDONESIA
19/10/09 Rabies (animal & human ) (update) - The Bali Animal Welfare Association has provided this update. A case of animal rabies has been confirmed in East Bali, at Kubu, which is on the coast just north of the tourist diving resorts of Tulamben and Amed. Confirmed cases have also been reported north of Ubud in Petang, about halfway from the original case on the south coast to the north coast. Therefore, a year after animal rabies was identified on the isolated Bukit peninsula, south of Denpasar airport, cases have now been identified throughout the heavily populated south east and eastern parts of Bali
ISRAEL
19/10/09 Rabies (animal) (update) - Animal rabies is causing concern for the Ministry of Agriculture as new cases continue to be reported. Since the beginning of 2009, 36 laboratory-confirmed cases of animal rabies have been reported, 22 in dogs, mostly in the Galilee and Golan Heights
Advice to travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care
Prevention for travellers 2
Travellers should be advised to use personal protective measures when entering areas where yellow fever is present. Avoidance of mosquito bites should be emphasised during the hours of daylight. Jungle yellow fever can only be prevented by immunisation.
30th September 2009
SOUTH AFRICA
30/09/09 Measles (update) - Health Officials have reported an outbreak of measles in Johannesburg. From January to August 2009, there were 11 confirmed cases of measles reported, however since the beginning of September 2009, there have been 48 measles cases reported.
Advice for Travellers : It should be confirmed that children have received their recommended doses of MMR at 12-15 months of age and again pre-school around 4-5 years, while unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves may consider vaccination if thought to be at risk. Two doses of MMR vaccine is required to give adequate protection
29th September 2009
CHINA (MAINLAND)
29/09/09 Rabies - The Ministry of Health for China reports that more than 40 million individuals on the mainland are bitten by animals annually; the reports also states that China is one of the countries most threatened by rabies
INDONESIA
29/09/09 Rabies (suspected human exposure) (update) - A fourth suspected case of rabies has been reported from the Penebel district of Tabanan regency. A 78-year-old man was admitted to hospital with advanced symptoms of rabies and died on 23 Sep 2009.
Advice to travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care
MEXICO
29/09/09 Dengue fever - Jalisco state is in the grip of an outbreak dengue fever. In one week, 340 cases of dengue fever were reported; the greatest number in the whole country.
Advice for travellers: Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by 'covering up' and the use of insect repellents. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays.
24th September 2009
MALDIVES
24/09/09 Chikungunya fever - Two German tourists were diagnosed with chikungunya fever when they returned from a ten-day trip to the Maldives. They travelled together directly from Germany to the Maldives and back again and did not visit any other chikungunya endemic areas either before of after their visit to the Maldives.
Advice for travellers: Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by 'covering up' and the use of bite avoidance. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays
22nd September 2009
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
21/09/09 Mumps - An outbreak of mumps has been reported from the Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. A small cluster of mumps cases was first reported in late April 2009, in recent days, three students have sought medical treatment complaining of symptoms consistent with mumps infection. Laboratory confirmation is awaited
Advice for Travellers : It should be confirmed that children have received their recommended doses of MMR at 12-15 months of age and again pre-school around 4-5 years, while unimmunised adults who have not had the disease themselves may consider vaccination if thought to be at risk.Two doses of MMR vaccine is required to give adequate protection
21st September 2009
PAKISTAN
21/9/2009 – Hepatitis B & C
In the last 24 hours it has been reported that 16 people have died in hospitals around the Punjab from hepatitis B & C infections. This brings the total in the last 7 days to 42. It has been postulated that the cause of this outbreak is the reuse of syringes contaminated with infected blood
Advice for Travellers: A course of vaccinations against hepatitis B can be given to travelers over a minimum of 3 weeks but carrying your own sterile equipment (needles and syringes) is advised
BRAZIL
19/9/2009 – Rabies Recovery
It has been reported from Recife in Brazil that a 16 year old boy has been discharged from hospital having been treated for rabies transmitted by the bite of infected bat in Sept 2008. He spent 100 days in intensive care and was treated using an experimental therapy using antivirals, sedatives and anaesthetics. He is still having difficulty walking and talking and the medical discussions around this case will continue for some time
Advice for Travellers: A course of 3 injections administered over a 3 week period prior to travel is available to travellers
18th September 2009
ROMANIA
17th September 2009
MALAYSIA
17/09/09 Rabies (suspected human exposure) - The media have reported a third suspected case of human rabies in the Tabanan Regency of Bali following the death of a 47-year-old woman. The woman was bitten on the arm by her own dog and she developed symptoms of rabies infection a month later and died in hospital on 14 Sep 2009
Advice to travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care.
16th September 2009
TURKEY
16/09/09 Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever - The Ministry of Health has reported that between 1 Jan and 31 Aug 2009, 274 cases of CCHF were detected, 61 of which were fatal.
CCHF is caused by a virus of the Bunyaviridae family. It is primarily a zoonosis with natural hosts including hares, birds, cattle, sheep, pigs and goats. The disease is transmitted to humans either by the bite of an infected tick (usually ixodid ticks of the Hyalomma genus) or through direct contact with blood or other tissue from infected livestock. Healthcare workers are at risk from the blood or tissues of an infected person . The majority of cases of CCHF occur amongst those working in agriculture and animal husbandry.
Advice for travellers:
The risk of CCHF to tourist travelers is very low. However, travellers to affected areas are advised to take measures to minimise their exposure to ticks. These include:
- Wear clothing with long sleeves and long trousers (tucked into socks), which can be treated with insecticide sprays such as permethrin.
- Apply insect repellent (DEET) to exposed skin.
- Check the body for ticks regularly.. Adult ticks, once they have fed and become engorged, may be the size of a coffee bean. Common areas for ticks to attach are at the hair-line, behind the ears, elbows, backs of knees, groin and armpits but larval ticks are tiny and difficult to see
Remove ticks as soon as possible by using a pair of tweezers or tick remover. The tweezers should be placed as close as possible to the skin and then the tick pulled slowly, ensuring the mouth parts are removed. Care needs to be taken not to squeeze the stomach contents into the site of the bite.
Animal handlers should take precautions to avoid exposure to blood and tissues of livestock and healthcare workers should observe appropriate infection control measures.
There is no vaccine to prevent CCHF
BRAZIL
16/09/09 Dengue fever (update) - As of 9 Sep 2009, a total of 36 563 cases of dengue fever have been recorded
Advice for travellers: Avoidance of mosquito bites, particularly during daylight hours, by 'covering up' and the use of insect repellents. Elimination of breeding sites around hotel rooms/ houses is advised for longer-term stays.
INDONESIA (Bali)
16th Sept 09 - RABIES
A 3rd victim of suspect rabies, a 47-year-old woman, died on Mon 14
Sep 2009 in hospital. She had been bitten by her own dog when it suddenly ran amok in her kitchen on 20 Jul 2009.
Advice to travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care.
15th September 2009
Advice for pilgrims for the Hajj and Umrah season of 1430 (2009)
Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), is the largest gathering of its kind in the world. Each year over two million Muslims from around the world gather in Makkah. The Hajj pilgrimage occurs from the 8th and 12th day of the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, and is estimated to fall between 25 and 29 November 2009.
The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization (WHO) have advised that elderly people over 65 years, children under 12 years, pregnant women, and patients with chronic diseases, should postpone their participation in Hajj and Umrah this year due to the risk of acquiring pandemic influenza during the pilgrimage
MANDATORY VACCINATION INFORMATION
Full Vaccination advice for travellers to Saudi Arabia can be found on the insert nomad link to forthcoming page here .The following vaccines are MANDATORY for Hajj 2009
Seasonal Influenza: The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia requires all pilgrims performing Hajj to have received vaccination against the 2009-2010 seasonal influenza at least two weeks before arrival in Saudi Arabia. Proof of vaccination is required in order to obtain a visa and no exceptions will be allowed. A written record of vaccination, authorised with the vaccinator’s official stamp, should be provided. If a traveller is in possession of an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) booklet, seasonal influenza vaccine can be recorded in the ‘Other Vaccinations’ pages of the booklet. Travellers should note that vaccination against seasonal influenza is not likely to protect against pandemic influenza.
Meningitis ACWY: All pilgrims to Hajj are required to show proof of vaccination against meningococcal meningitis ACW135Y. Vaccination is also a requirement for obtaining a visa.
This vaccine should have been received not more than three years and not less than ten days before arrival in Saudi Arabia, and should be recorded in a vaccination book showing the traveller’s full name. If a traveller is in possession of an ICVP booklet, meningococcal meningitis vaccine can be recorded in the ‘Other Vaccinations’ pages of the booklet.
Children under the age of 2 years will require 2 doses of vaccine separated by 3 months
Swine flu: The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia requires vaccination against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza if the vaccine becomes universally available within the UK, but they recognise that this is unlikely to apply for this year’s pilgrimage.
Advice to travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
14/09/09 Cholera - An outbreak of cholera has been reported from Papua New Guinea; the first in 50 years in the country. So far, 130 cases including 12 deaths have been recorded. According to a WHO representative, the outbreak began in two coastal villages in northern Morobe Province at the end of July 2009. However, the infection has now spread to Lae, the provincial capital. Morobe Province has also been affected by an unrelated outbreak of shigellosis. Around 40 individuals may have died as a result in the last month in remote districts of Morobe.
Advice for Travellers: Travellers to outbreak areas who will be mixing closely with the local population and cannot ensure safe drinking water can be immunised against cholera.
UKRAINE
14/09/09 Rabies (update) - Veterinarians are concerned that an alarming situation is developing with regard to outbreaks of rabies among animals in the Crimea and in the Ukraine in general. The situation is particularly bad in the Feodosia Region because many settlements are located on the edge of tracts of woodlands. The head of veterinary services of Fedosia stated that rabies cases occur throughout the Ukraine and the virus is common in dogs, cats and other domestic animals which increases the risk for humans. Domestic animals are at risk of aquiring the infection from wild animals due to their close proximity to forests.
Advice for Travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
14/09/09 Rabies (human exposure) - A family in Oxford County, Maine were exposed to rabies when they were bitten by a stray kitten that they had taken in August this year. The sick kitten was euthanised and laboratory confirmed as having rabies.
Advice for Travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travellers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care.
9th September 2009
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
01/09/09 Dengue fever - Dengue fever has been reported from Dominican Republic. Twelve individuals from the municipal district of Canca La Reina in the north of the country (close to Santiago) have been affected by the infection. An eradication programme is underway to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
MYANMAR
01/09/09 Dengue fever (update) - The Ministry of Health has reported that at least 329 individuals have been infected with dengue fever in Rakhine State, western Myanmar in 2009. Cases of dengue fever are also being reported from Karen State and Chin State
BHUTAN
30/07/09 Rabies (human)
On 24 Jul 2009, an 11-year-old girl died from rabies following a bite from her per dog. The girl lived in the South of the country close to the border with India in an area where another child died from rabies infection two months previously. It is hoped that a spay/neuter/vaccination programme already successful in the captal city may be able to deal with the stray dog problem
Advice to travellers: A course of pre-exposure vaccinations are available for those travelers unlikely to be unable to receive prompt and adequate medical care
EGYPT
31/08/09 Avian Influenza (human)
The Ministry of Health has reported a new human case of avian influenza. The patient is a 20 month-old girl from the Monfia governorate in the Delta region; confirmation is awaited. This is the 84th human case of avian influenza in Egypt since the beginning of 2006.
Advice to travelers: there are no restrictions on travel to Egypt
UNITED STATES
31/08/09 Rabies (animal)
In recent weeks, two racoons have been identified as being infected with rabies