Despite the current omicron problem, travel is becoming increasingly more attractive again. Nevertheless, special attention should be paid to some countries.
UPDATES ON GLOBAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS
GHANA
In Ghana, 102 infections with yellow fever have been reported in four regions (Savannah, Upper West, Bono and Oti) since October. Of these patients, 46 have since died. In addition, 600 suspected cases have been registered.
INDIA
In 2021, over 9600 people have contracted dengue fever in New Delhi. Of these, 23 have died. Since the beginning of this year, 8 people have already fallen ill.
In terms of all of India, over 123,100 infections and 90 deaths have been reported as of October.
In the Thiruvananthapuram district, 90 cases of Zika virus have been reported. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, 145 infections have been registered so far.
PHILIPPINES
As a result of the typhoon in December, which caused flooding and devastation on various islands such as Bohol, Cebo, Siargao, Palawan and Bohol, it can be assumed that diarrheal diseases will increase.
Approximately 30 patients were already affected by typhoid fever on Mindanao Island earlier this year.
In 2021, 66,655 infections with dengue fever were registered. 237 patients succumbed to the disease.
In the Western Visayas region, deaths from rabies have risen to 12.
SRI LANKA
In 2021, over 35,000 dengue fever infections were recorded. Of these patients, 10 have died. Most infections were reported in the Western Province.
SOUTH AFRICA
Since the beginning of 2021, a total of 19 rabies infections have been registered in three provinces (Eastern Vape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo). Most affected were children who were infected through contact with dogs or cats.
USA
In early January 2022, there was a hepatitis A outbreak in the state of Pennsylvania (Montgomery County). In this case, 11 people became infected in an Italian restaurant, of whom 1 ill person has already died.
In 2021, 5 people have died as a result of rabies infection. Of these, one person had become infected in the Philippines as a result of a dog bite. One child succumbed to the disease after being bitten by a bat. Another man died despite appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis as a result of an undiagnosed immune deficiency. An 80-year-old patient who was also bitten by a bat refused postexposure prophylaxis and died.
Approximately 55,000 patients are treated annually in the U.S. using postexposure prophylaxis and 4,000-6,000 infections are known to occur in animals. The affected animals are predominantly raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
This article was written by our medical advisor Martin Eickhoff.
For further questions regarding travel medicine and remote area emergency care: pro-medi
