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.

To make an appointment with your nearest TMA clinic ring 1300 42 11 42, or click here.

New Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine here in March

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a disease that occurs in Southern Asia across into the Pacific to Australia's northern neighbours of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Its location spreads from India and Pakistan over Nepal across South East Asia with Burma, Thailand Laos Cambodia and Vietnam affected. Then north to Korea, Eastern China and Japan and south east to Malaysia Indonesia and PNG.

It is a viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes. The virus is called a Flavivirus. In this family of viruses are other mosquito spread diseases such as Dengue Fever and Murray Valley Encephalitis. The mosquitoes that carry the virus are the Culex Mosquitoes. The virus causing the disease has a lifecycle where it breeds in pigs but is able to infect humans. It therefore commonly occurs where there are mosquitoes, pigs and humans living close to each other.

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) infected areas 1970 - 1998

The potential complications of the disease are very serious. Most people who are exposed to the virus from mosquito bites have little problem. Of those that become ill however one third will die, another third will survive but with serious neurological problems and the remaining third recover without lasting side effects.

At Travel Medicine Alliance clinics we spend time informing our clients of the risk of this disease. It is important that people reduce their risk of infection by not getting bitten by mosquitoes. The regular use of mosquito repellent, the wearing of longer clothing to reduce skin exposure and if required, mosquito netting use are encouraged.

For those travellers who will be spending some time in the rural areas of the countries listed we also recommend JE vaccination. A new vaccine has become available which consists of 2 injections 4 weeks apart. The vaccine appears to be reliable giving high levels of protection initially and with reportedly few side effects. Currently it is recommended for adults only.

Some trips can put the traveller at risk in even a relatively short time. Fishing trips in Papua New Guinea are an example of this.

(For a discussion on using Japanese Encephalitis vaccination for Kokoda treks by Dr Deb Mills from the Brisbane Clinic see here).

...prepared by Dr Paul Davey, Travel Health Geelong, Victoria

Meningococcal Disease Outbreak in Africa

At this time of the year Meningococcal disease becomes more common throughout the Sub Saharan area of Africa. The disease which is caused by a bacterial infection can come on remarkably quickly with a person going from being well in the morning to dead by the evening.

It has a high death rate even when diagnosed with good treatment options available such as in Australia. The Meningococcal bacteria that causes the disease is spread between people in close contact.

Kissing and sharing of drink bottles is thought to encourage the spread.

We recommend that travellers to Sub Saharan Africa during the highest risk times of December to June should be vaccinated against the disease. The vaccine is a single injection that gives around 3 years of protection.

Away from Africa we also recommend vaccination for people who may be at a higher risk of infection.

Because of the association with kissing and sharing of glasses or bottles young adults doing a Gap Year or a year off travelling the world may be at increased risk and we would offer the vaccination to them.

Meningitis Belt In Africa

A detailed knowledge of your itinerary, your pre existing health problems plus what happened medically to you whilst away will be required to understand what has caused your problem and to then treat it.

Remember if you are ill on return seek medical help.