 Avoid
food to beat jet lag?
New US research shows that travellers who are
recovering from jet lag can fend off fatigue by not
eating, according to a study published in the journal
Science. Researchers have found a new
"feeding clock"
which is separate from the brain's circadian master
clock that controls daily sleep cycles, behaviour and
metabolism.
In experiments on mice the US researchers found that
the animals were able to stay awake until they had
eaten, suggesting the feeding clock could override the
body's circadian rhythm when food was scarce.
...prepared by Dr Deborah Mills, Travel
Medical Alliance, Brisbane, QLD
Travellers
diarrhoea update
Travellers diarrhoea may not be
a trivial illness. Recent studies have shown that 1 in
10 persons who develop travellers diarrhoea will acquire
post infectious irritable bowel syndrome. This may mean
months of bowel upset. Recommendations for treatment of
travellers gastro have changed. It is not a good idea
to just "let the diarrhoea flush the germs
away". Current recommendations are to
treat travellers
gastro early with an antibiotic.
...prepared by Dr Deborah Mills, Travel
Medical Alliance, Brisbane, QLD
Motion sickness - fast facts
-
 Motion
Sickness is not "a lack of moral fibre".
-
How common is it in the
population?
-
One third is highly
susceptible; one third react to fairly rough
conditions; one third only in extreme conditions.
-
Women are more susceptible
than men.
-
Persons 2-12 years are most
susceptible.
-
Susceptibility decreases
with age - uncommon after age 50.
-
Motion sickness takes about
3 days to subside on average -
mostly treatable with
right combination therapy (Stemetil is NOT the right
treatment - it does not work).
Consult your
local TMA
clinic for up-to-date advice.
Outbreak
Information and News
Avian influenza - Indonesia
|
On the 10th September
2008 the Ministry of Health of Indonesia has
retrospectively announced two confirmed deaths
of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza
virus - both died in July (2 months ago!) - this
brings the total to 137 cases confirmed to date
in Indonesia, 112 have been fatal.
Travellers
need to ensure they don't eat or handle raw
chicken, and wash hands frequently. |
|
Flu vaccine Trivia
The composition of the influenza
vaccines for use in the northern and
southern hemispheres in 2009 are identical. |
|
Sri Lanka - Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is an infection
that causes fever and liver disease (jaundice). It is
caught from exposure to animal urine - usually in water.
According to postings on ProMED,
more than 3,900 cases of leptospirosis, a significant
increase over the average incidence, have been reported
so far this year including in areas near the capital,
Colombo.
Travelers to Sri Lanka who
anticipate extensive outdoors exposure, including
disaster relief workers and adventure travelers such as
hikers and rafters, need to take extra precautions.
Antibiotics are available to be taken weekly to prevent
this disease.
Fiji - Dengue
The Ministry of Health in
Fiji is bracing for more cases of dengue, with
815
people reported to have been affected so far since last
month [August 2008], says Director of Curative Health
Services Dr Ami Chandra. Dr. Chandra said the ministry
had no time frame on how long it expects it will take
to control the mosquito-born disease.
He confirmed to Fijilive that
Fiji has category [dengue virus serotype] 4 dengue,
similar to the recent situation in other South Pacific
countries like Samoa, New Caledonia and Kiribati.
Dr. Tharid Ali, the Divisional
Medical Officer in the Western Division, where the
disease is more prevalent, has called on members of the
public to help the ministry control the outbreak by
clearing their homes and surroundings of all mosquito
breeding places.
|
Do you have a holiday
story to tell, especially one with a medical
event?
Send it to
info@travelmedicine.com.au,
and we will send you one of our mini TMA
torches to put on your key ring - a great
help when finding your lock at night. |
|
The Travel Medicine Alliance