15.4.13 Avian Influenza Update As of 15 April, the World Health Organisation ( WHO) reports that a total of 60 cases have been laboratory confirmed with influenza A(H7N9) virus in China, including thirteen deaths.   Cases have been reported primarily from Shanghai City (Shanghai Province) with additional cases reported from Chuzhou City (Anhui Province); Nanjing, […]

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Recently I was very honoured to receive.. The Surgeon General John White Medal at a small ceremony from Professor John Pearn. “With congratulations and esteem for all your leadership and service to the specialty discipline of Travel Medicine.” I would like to use this opportunity to thank all those who have helped make this recognition […]

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There was a recent story on the 7.30 report about Norovirus. Most particularly about the new strain of Norovirus known as Sydney – because it was first reported here in Australia. This new strain is circulating in the USA and UK. As the name implies this is a virus. Norovirus is notable because it is […]

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See link – my interview for the Travel Tart Blog – told some funny stories.

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A video, twitter chat, and Press release about travel health. Queenslanders are putting themselves at risk of contracting potentially serious infectious diseases while travelling abroad.1 Researchers from the University of Sydney’s Family Medicine Research Centre have found more than three-in-five Australians are not seeking professional health advice before travelling overseas, with many visiting destinations carrying […]

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BE AWARE ! Choosing safe food and drink, includes choosing safe alcohol. Only drink beverages from a trusted source. Do not drink local brews such as Arak. Only drink beverages you have opened and poured yourself. Ideally dont drink from already opened bottles. ( Its easy to refill that vodka bottle on the shelf in […]

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The incidence of Travellers Diarrhoea in persons cruising down the Nile approaches 90%, so in the past Travel Medicine doctors have sometimes prescribed a daily dose of a special antibiotic while on the 3-6 day cruise for the prevention of this very debilitating condition. However, recent research in Canada has been released that suggests persons […]

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Even if you had an influenza vaccine last year, to stay protected you need to have a booster. The vaccine is effective for about 12 months. Influenza vaccination is especially worthwhile if you travel on public transport, or work with the general public or in healthcare. In Australia, the vaccine is FREE for persons over […]

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Recently there have been two cases of sleeping sickness reported in European travellers who had visited slightly different parts of the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya, one traveller was from Germany and the other from Belgium. Thankfully both persons recovered. Prior to this, there had been no reported cases in the Masai Mara for […]

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We have had several phone calls asking about meningitis risk in travellers to Vietnam. There have been a few news reports about meningitis in children, and young adults. The baseline rate of meningococcal disease in the human population is about 1 per 100,000 population, so there will always be a few cases – the disease […]

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