Travel Medicine Alliance eUpdate - health news & information for international travellers

In this issue:

Measles - not just for kids
Deaths abroad - safer than you think?
Zika Virus Outbreak
Travellers Thrombosis
New TMA Clinic in the Hunter Valley

Whether you are travelling overseas, or you are assisting others to travel overseas, this update will provide you with information on some of the important travel health news for that month. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who is interested. New people can sign up here.

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Measles - not just for kids

Measles and Mumps remain common diseases in many parts of the world. For Australian travelers, the risk for exposure to measles and mumps can be high, and both diseases can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

Worldwide, more than 20 million people get sick with measles each year; of these cases, 345,000 are fatal.

Currently, numerous measles outbreaks are ongoing worldwide, including an outbreak in Japan. however, data from the USA showed that in 2007, the majority of US import-associated cases have been linked to India.

Current guidelines recommend two MMR vaccines to ensure lifetime protection. Anyone born between 1966 and 1982 are entitled to a free vaccine as they are likely to have had only one. They were vaccinated before these new guidelines were put in place. Immunisation is especially important before travel. See your local TMA clinic.

Deaths Abroad

Zika Virus Outbreak, Yap (Federated States of Micronesia)

Centre for Disease Control USA. Released: July 6, 2007.

The Federated States of Micronesia reports that an outbreak of Zika virus infection is occurring on Yap, an island of this Pacific nation. There have been 60 confirmed and 60 suspected cases. Zika virus is a flavivirus, the same family as dengue and West Nile viruses. It has been previously found in Asia and Africa and is transmitted to humans mostly by mosquito bites.

Symptoms of Zika virus infection can include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and pain in the smaller joints of the hands and feet. No vaccine is available to prevent Zika infection and it can only be treated symptomatically. As of July 1, 2007, no patients on Yap have needed to be admitted to the hospital due to Zika infection, and no deaths due to Zika virus have been reported. An epidemiologic investigation and response to the outbreak are under way.

Travellers Thrombosis

The risk of a travellers clot doubles after a long flight , new research shows. And the risk stays high for a week after you touch down, and could still be elevated after 2 months.

The World Health Organisation has just released some information on the WRIGHT (WHO Research Into Global Hazards of Travel) project. The risk increases still further with flights longer than 12 hours; in persons who were especially short [less than 1.6m] or tall [ over 1.90m], those taking oral contraceptives, persons who were obese, and travellers with certain blood abnormalities.

However the risk for a healthy individuals was still only 1 in 6000. Drinking fluids, moving the legs and persons with risk factors should seek advice regarding the use of special stockings and even injectible heparin to thin the blood during the flight.
 

New TMA Clinic in the Hunter Valley

The Travel Medicine Alliance has a new member in the Hunter Valley.

1300 42 11 42

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