Prepared by TMA Member Maitland
Public Health Physicians also need travel health advice. Another satisfied (and healthy) Chromis customer. And the beautiful fish is our symbol. Check our website www.chromis.com.au for more information on us and our services.
Read More »| … Prepared by TMA Member Maitland: Dr Puru Sagar Chromis
A survey among travelers departing from Cuzco International airport in Peru showed that almost half of all travelers (48.5%) interviewed reported symptoms of altitude sickness, and 17% had severe AMS. One in five travelers with AMS was forced to alter their travel plans. Three people were admitted to hospital and one was urgently evacuated. Only one-sixth (16.6%) of the group used Acetazolamide (Diamox) for prevention of AMS, but more than 60% used coca leaf products. Unfortunately, the use of coca-leaf products (usually tea) was found to be associated with a greater risk of developing AMS in this study. Use of coca-leaf can have other negative side-effects (changes in circulation and cardiac arrhythmias) as well as a positive urine drug screen to cocaine. Other recent reviews have found that Diamox 250 mg half tab twice daily reduced the risk of developing AMS by about 48%. There was no benefit in taking higher doses. Diamox is strongly recommended for travelers flying into Cuzco (elevation 3,225 m) and is often required at lower altitudes (around 2,000 m). These scientific studies underline the need to obtain accurate and up-to-date advice from an experienced travel medicine practitioner before undertaking trips to altitude. Prevention is really worthwhile. The Travelling Well iPad app or iBook from Dr Deb the Travel Doctor has very useful information on preventing and recognizing altitude illness.
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No vaccines will prevent this one though being knowledgeable of your accommodation and environment might help. This rare, but rather topical virus is carried by rodents and can be passed on via contact with their excrement. It occurs in both North and South America and East Asia and was first isolated in 1978 in Korea.
No known illness has occurred in Australia though antibodies have been found in rodents in this country. The virus causes both respiratory disease (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome [HPS] and haemorrhagic renal problems [HFRS] with about 30% of those inflicted dying of the disease. Interestingly, it was investigated as a biological warfare agent by the US government – though this doesn’t happen nowadays. Imagine being attacked by weponised mouse urine!
A major outbreak has occurred in the United States over the last few months and new cases are still being discovered. There have been nine confirmed cases with three deaths in travellers to the ever popular Yosemite National Park. Most of the cases relate to a cluster of illnesses around the Signature Tent Cabins in Curry Village. Park records have shown that at least nine Australians could have been exposed in the period between June 10 and August 24 and urged to seek medical review if they become unwell. More info.
Read More »A recent major conference in New Zealand has released a statement on this significant disease and its impact for the Australian and New Zealand populations. By world standards we are low risk for viral hepatitis HOWEVER about half a million people are living with the consequences of the disease in the two above mentioned countries and fifty new cases diagnosed every day. So while it is important to consider hepatitis vaccination for travel, it’s also important to consider without intent to travel. The vaccine is cheap, safe and effective. All Australian children are offered a childhood vaccination program for hepatitis B but there are a lot of adults who need to catch up.
Getting Hepatitis B vaccinations and still smiling.
The Auckland Statement is an urgent call to action for our governments and the community at large to come together and curb avoidable deaths caused by viral hepatitis — including through setting targets for reducing transmission, increasing testing, and enhancing access to specific treatments. More info.
… Written by Dr John Kenafake, Sunshine Coast TMA
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“Just do it”, ”Life be in it” and “seize the day” are common enough motivational and marketing phases so it’s refreshing when you meet ‘the real deal’. J.M. is a mid sixties female patient of mine with significant asthma. You could imagine her in the CWA or playing bingo at the local RSL. Scratch the surface and you find a hard core travel pedigree that would make a 1970s adventure surfer blush with envy. A couple of years ago she spent 3 months in West Africa travelling through some of the poorest and ‘wildest’ countries in the world. Solo and overland using local transport she travelled across Senegal, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali. Places that have most of us reaching for a map just to locate. Inhospitable deserts and lush jungles revealed their secret gems to her such as the amazing mud mosque of Djenne, built in 1907. See right. |
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As I lived her tales vicariously, sitting my clinic in Maroochydore I was in awe of her river boat [known as a passasse trip up the Niger River, Mali to the legendary Timbuktu [or Tomobouctou – it sounds great in French]. No European returned alive from Timbuktu until 1868. A similar trip was once described as ‘for those who like their pleasures lonely and their comforts few’. Now as far as ‘out there’ trips go it’s hard to top the Sahara and West Africa but, of course ,she did .2012 saw her overland from Georgia [where’s that map], Armenia, Iran, Pakistan, China and Mongolia. This carves a huge slice through the Middle East and Asia. Of course, travel like this is not without drama. At the Iran-Pakistan border she has to have an army escort and travelled on a bus filled with fifty Bangladeshi refugees. No food or water was provided for them for the 18 hour 600 km ‘journey from hell’ so she was able to buy bread and distribute it through the bus. They, and she, survived and she travelled on along the Karakoram Highway-the highest paved road in the world from Abbottabad, Pakistan to Xinjiang in China. This highway is known as ‘the Friendship Highway’ in China and is also known as the ‘ninth wonder of the world’. |
Friendship Highway. Earthquakes and floods had cut the road and she needed a
three hour boat trip to link up road sections
Boating in the mountains.
Aggressive border guards and lack of facilities [worse than the Sahara] were balanced by warm, friendly locals happy to help her out or put her up for the night if needed. This proved, once again, regardless of politics, people are generally kind the world over-especially for the PREPARED TRAVELLER.
J.M. is 2nd from the left with an escort of border guards.
Speaking of being prepared please read this post by a travel nurse in Uganda on the International Travel Medicine website.
Read More »“In travel medicine we talk of “risk assessment” but we must also clearly ask patients/travellers what level of “risk acceptance” that they are prepared for. Even in Uganda, many new expats seem to think that all magic will happen if they are sick/injured and they will be whisked away to a fully equipped and staffed “developed world type” ER – which of course is usually not the case. When orienting new expats to the health issues in Uganda – I always stress, with a lot of emphasis, if you have a car accident here, be prepared that there is no 911! The first people on the scene will take your wallet, watch, computer, and iPhone. The next people will be the good Samaritans and they will do their best to put you in the back of a pick-up or taxi and take you to the nearest (which is not usually the best) clinic. Travellers and expats to remote areas and developing nations must understand that they do take significant risks with their lives/health and they should be prepared if the worst happens”. Cindy Rugsten RN BN DTM AFTM RCPS (Glasgow) Travel Medicine Nurse Specialist
The same precautions with food and water for developing countries apply in the Pacific Islands: Cook it, peel it, boil it, or forget it! However, it is not always easy to follow these rules at all times during travel. Depending on your trip, your travel doctor might recommend vaccinations for Hepatitis A, typhoid, and travellers’ diarrhoea. It is always a good idea to have a simple medical kit with medications for treating traveller’s diarrhoea, and correct treatment could mean that you are better in a few hours rather than being sick for days or even weeks.
| Kayaking in Pago Pago Harbour, American Samoa – Chosen by Lonely Planet as one of the top 15 experiences in the Pacific Islands! |
Hepatitis B is common in the Pacific Islands, and an estimated 25 to 30% of the local population have chronic Hepatitis B infection. Travellers should consider Hepatitis B vaccination if they plan to live or work in the Pacific, or expect to have close contact with the local population. All Australian children are now routinely vaccinated for Hepatitis B. Sexually transmitted infections are common, and HIV is also becoming a problem.
There is no risk of rabies on the Pacific Islands, but dog bites are common on some islands, and American Samoa has the unenviable reputation of having the highest incidence of dog bites in the world! Scuba diving is a popular activity, but there are few decompression chambers in the Pacific in case of mishaps. The Divers Alert Network provides information and insurance for scuba divers. Ciguatera fish poisoning is caused by marine microalgae in the tropics, and can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle cramps, paraesthesia, and a reversal of hot and cold sensation. It is riskier to eat large fish because they accumulate for toxin by eating smaller fish. As a general rule, if the fish fits onto a dinner plate, Ciguatera is unlikely to be a problem. It is best to avoid eating large reef fish such as barracuda and grouper. More information on ciguatera can be found in the June 2009 edition of the TMA Newsletter.
Natural hazards such as cyclones, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions are part of everyday life, but serious disasters are relatively rare. Indeed, volcanic activity is responsible for creating many stunning and incredible landscapes throughout the Pacific, including extinct craters filled with rainforests and bats, tiny islands with sharp jagged peaks piercing the sky, abandoned villages half buried by old lava, and active volcanoes that are still erupting today.
Tinakula, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. On a rest day from fieldwork, the local team on the Solomon Islands showed me their active volcano, which was about an hour’s boat ride from where we were working. Tinakula is only 3.5km wide, but rises 850m above the ocean, and has been uninhabited for decades because of eruptions. Even from a far distance, it is clear that Tinakula is highly active, with smoke pouring out from the top of its cone. But the true forces of nature could only be appreciated from up close, where rumblings from the volcano could also be heard and felt, and hot rocks seen spurting into the sky, and then tumbling down the hill into the ocean with a big steaming splash.
… Prepared by Dr Colleen Lau, TMA Perth and Brisbane
Read More »Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is often misdiagnosed as dengue because symptoms can be very similar. The bacteria are carried by animals (including rodents, pets, livestock, and wildlife), and excreted in their urine. Humans can become infected by direct contact with animals, or contact with water and soil that has been contaminated by animal urine. The risk of infection is especially high after flooding, because floodwaters can spread the bacteria, and wash them into rivers and streams. During flooding, people often have to wade in water and therefore have cuts, wounds, and waterlogged skin, all of which increase the risk of infection. In the Pacific Islands, recent outbreaks have occurred after cyclones and flooding on some islands including Fiji and New Caledonia. People participating in outdoor activities are also at risk because of contact with fresh water and soil. The risk of infection can be reduced by wearing protective clothing and boots, cleaning and covering wounds, and avoiding swimming in freshwater streams and rivers after heavy rainfall. The bacteria do not survive in seawater, so there is no risk of leptospirosis from swimming in the ocean.
Leptospirosis research team at work in American Samoa. Left: Unloading fieldwork gear on the remote Manu’a Islands in the far east of American Samoa. Right: Collecting blood samples and questionnaire data. Our study collected data from over 800 people from 5 islands in American Samoa, and found that about 15% of people have had previous leptospirosis infections. The study investigated environmental factors that increased the risk of leptospirosis transmission, produced maps to predict high-risk areas, and provided information to improve public health interventions.
Read More »Dr Colleen Lau is one of the founding travel doctors of the TMA Perth Clinic, and also works at the TMA Brisbane Clinic. Over the past 3 years, she has travelled around the South Pacific for tropical medicine research projects and consultancies, and has just completed a PhD in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Queensland. In this article, Colleen provides us with information on health hazards in the South Pacific, and some snapshots from her research trips in American Samoa, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.
If you expect to find remote islands, underwater adventures, friendly smiling faces, flower garlands, tropical sunsets, coconut trees, and cocktails in the South Pacific, you will not be disappointed. On a world map, the islands look like tiny dots in the vast ocean. Close up, they are home to incredible diversity in culture, history, language, landscape, economy, and wealth. Consequently, sanitation, hygiene, and the quality and availability of health care also vary dramatically between the island nations. Although the Pacific Islands conjure images of tropical paradise, most of them are developing nations, and there are health issues that travellers should be aware of. Prevention is always better than cure, and the risk of many of the health hazards can be significantly reduced by simple precautions.
| Rainmaker Mountain, American Samoa. After a 2-hour uphill hike, the view from the top of Mount Alava is breathtaking. Everything is lush and green, because American Samoa is one of the wettest inhabited places in the world, with an annual rainfall of over 3000mm. For my leptospirosis research project, I spent 3 months there during the ‘dry’ season, and it rained every single day! |
When travelling in the South Pacific, it is therefore very important to take precautions against mosquito bites by using DEET-containing repellents, wearing protective clothing, and using mosquito nets or screened accommodation. Perfumes can attract mosquitoes and should be avoided.
Village health post (left) and Tanna Hospital (right), Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Health care and medical supplies are limited, especially in the more remote islands. It is always best to carry a few basic supplies, and the most common items that travellers need are medications for diarrhoea, colds and flus, and pain-killers, and simple dressings for minor wounds and injuries.
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… Provided by Dr Joan Chamberlain, TMA member Rockhampton
Often people put a lot of time into their itinerary and flights but forget about pre travel advice and preparation. Also forgotten at times is consideration to your luggage and packing. Consideration should be given to your destination, activities, length of flight and luggage requirements. 1. Choosing LuggageAlthough each traveller will have different needs some principles remain the same. Choose a good quality bag. You will get what you pay for and you want to get your best mileage out of it. If for under the plane, light weight, two sets of handles, and preferably with wheels and pull out handle. You will not always have trolleys or assistance at your destination. If back pack for under plane, ensure you bag does not have straps or portions that can get caught or torn on automated conveyers or transport belts. Be careful not to have baggage tags that can also be caught. Find another way to ID you luggage. Also ensure that zippers do up well and are unlikely to undo with handling. You do not want to own the bag on the carousel with the under pants taped to the outside. Put your contact details inside the bag or ensure it is well covered. You don’t need to advertise your details. E.g. If you have a bag with a name place, put your card with details towards the inside. Watch your luggage. Never leave it. More luggage is stolen from the ground than lost from transportation. 2. On flight bag…what to carryYou and your under plane luggage can be parted. Your onboard luggage and your handbag are easier to keep tabs on. Make sure the bag complies with the airlines limits. They can refuse to carry, charge hold fees etc if not compliant. Name everything. Ensure your bag is well labelled. Enclose eye wear, tooth brush and paste, hair brush or comb, moisturiser and a change of underwear. Lost luggage and arrival clothes are not fun for 2 days waiting for lost luggage. A fresh set of under clothes is vital. Ensure medications, travel letters and a copy of documentation is also kept on board. Valuables should not be stored in the hold, take them on board. Phone, camera, jewellery, passports, money, travel checks etc should be carried in your hand bag or in a body belt. Pack a book or activity for in flight. 3. Carry what you know you need, not the sparesMost people just carry too much. You really only need a minimal number of underpants, not one for every day. Most times you can rinse or wash. The same with day clothes, evening wear, rationalize. Spare toiletries? Try buying them. What about the accessories. Do you want to carry these everywhere just in case? Get a seasoned travel friend to revise your bag and show you how to pack it, or read a book on it.
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Melatonin is the hormone of darkness – a hormone from the pineal gland in the brain which controls the body’s internal clock. Melatonin levels increase when it is dark outside and this causes you to feel sleepy. A great deal of research is being undertaken on melatonin to clarify its role in treatment of jetlag. In the United States, melatonin is available without a script and outsells vitamin C. In Australia, some melatonin is available on a script. In Dec 2002, a literature review found that 5mg of melatonin, taken at the target bedtime at the destination (10pm-midnight), for 2-5 days after arrival, decreased jetlag resulting from flights crossing five or more time zones. It seemed to work best in persons who were travelling eastward. Melatonin is not recommended if you have epilepsy or take the drug warfarin. Science News 2008 published information about a food related ‘clock’ in the brain, that overrides the light based ‘clock’. A period of fasting for about 16 hours (e.g. no eating during the flight) and then eating as soon after landing seems to help travellers adjust to the new time zone more quickly than they would otherwise do. … From “Travelling Well”. Available here for your kindle from Amazon
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