The Travel Doctor NZ News

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Measles in South Africa Feb 2010

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 18:30:00 +1100
The city of Cape Town on 1 Feb 2010 issued a warning about a measles outbreak. More than 100 cases of measles had been reported in Cape Town since October. In the Western Cape Province health authorities say they are on high alert after receiving reports that nearly 250 people around the province have contracted measles in the past 5 months.. Both Gauteng (which includes Johannesburg) and KwaZulu-Natalprovinces were hit by measles outbreaks late last year. More than 1000 children in Gauteng contracted measles in the space of 3 months. The Eastern Cape province has also experienced a surge in measles cases during the past month. A 25-year-old man from Tshezi village outside Mthatha died on 3 Jan 2010 after contracting the virus from a two-year-old who came to visit during Christmas holidays from Gauteng. By mid-January there were 50 suspected measles infections reported from villages.

Measles appears now to be prevalent throughout South Africa with both adults and children at risk, indicating incomplete vaccine coverage. Visitors to South Africa should ensure that they have adequate protection. Measles infection, although usually mild, can have serious consequences for non-immunised or partially immunised children and adults.

Increased bird flu activity

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:45:00 +1100
The northern hemisphere winter has seen a number of new reports of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 appearing. In Egypt the problem has been recognised as being endemic and only human cases are being notified to international organisations. Six new cases have been notified since early November with the latest being reported on 23rd January. Press articles continue to report extensive bird outbreaks in Indonesia while 2 human cases were reported from Pekanbaru earlier this month. There is continuing activity in poultry in Vietnam but only one human case in November. In Cambodia there was a single outbreak in December with no human cases resulting. A new outbreak in domestic poultry has occurred this month in West Bengal, India and in neighbouring Bangladesh there have been two outbreaks in the Joypurhat district this month – the first since September last. In Israel an outbreak was discovered on 26 January in Kibbutz Ein Shemer near Haifa.

Rabid raccoons in N.Y. Central Park

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:01:37 +1100
Rabid raccoons have been increasingly infesting Central Park, with 8 of the mad animals found there in the past 2 weeks, according to the Department of Health. The 8 cases, along with 12 reported in 2009, are a dramatic increase over years past, when only a single rabid raccoon was reported from 2003 to 2008. Most of the rabid raccoons were found in the northern portions of Central Park from 79th Street to 110th Street, the Health Dept said. The Health Dept has posted fliers in the park and nearby subway stations and plans to bait raccoons with oral rabies vaccine in and around Central Park, Morningside Park, and Riverside Park in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease. Park workers have increased surveillance for sick animals. Visitors are encouraged to be on the lookout for strange animal behaviour and to call an emergency number if they notice animals that may be infected

Central park is located in New York City. Central Park's 341 hectares include 55 ha of woodlands, 101 ha of lawns, and 61 ha of water in 7 water bodies. The park's 10 kilometre perimeter extends from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue and 59th Street to 110th Street. More than 25 million visitors visit Central Park each year. With a park this size, and this many visitors and activities, it is easy to see why this many rabid raccoons would warrant concern.