TRAVEL HEALTH CARE

What is new! The latest updated travel health information

Avian Flu around the world ,Meningiococcal Disease in China, 2008 Flu Vaccination, Dengue Fever, Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

Avian Flu around the World

There are few deaths within the same family in Indonesia recently ,raising the concern of human to human transmission.. It is advised that travellers going to Indonesia should consider to have the Flu vaccination. A course of Tamiflu should also be packed . Please consult your own doctor before travel .There are widespread reports of H5N1 infected wild birds around the world which suggested the virus is spreading. Experts worried the original H5N1 is probably undergoing mutation. WHO has issued no specific travel warning yet, but precautions has been advised. For further information, please check www.health.gov.au/avian_fluenza or www.who.int.

Meningiococcal Disease in China

No endemic outbreak has been reported recently .WHO has not issued any restrictive travel warning. Meningococcal vaccination need to be considered for someone who travel extensively through Asia and some Middle East countries.

2008 Flu Vaccination

The 2008 preparation of Flu vaccine has been availabe since March . Travellers are strongly advised to have the Fluvax done as well along with other travel vaccinations, particularly to countries affected by the Avian flu. Flu vaccination does not protect human from contracting the Avian Flu, but it does help to protect you from the getting the severe form of the Flu which can lower your immunity to other viral infection.

Dengue Fever

The incidence of Dengue fever infection is on the rise in South East Asia,particularly in Thailand, Vietnam,Cambodia, Malaysia adn Singapore. It also exists even in our Cairns and Darwin area. There is no vaccine available to prevent the disease. The only way is to prevent mosquitoes bite especially during the day. The use of strong insect repellant like Bushman gel is strongly recommended.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

There is a worldwide shortage of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine . It is now recommended only for longstay travellers eg missionaries who work in rual setting to receive the vaccines .