Media Release
27 April 2007
Ministry of Health Issues Health Warnings to Travellers
The Ministry of Health is warning travellers of two communicable disease outbreaks - one in Fiji, the other in Japan.
Due to heavy rain and flooding in Fiji, an outbreak of Typhoid fever has occured in the northern provinces of Cakaudrove and Macuata on the island of Vanua Levu.
The Ministry of Health is warning travellers to this area to be aware of the outbreak and take the neccessary precautions to protect themselves against the disease if travelling to this area.
Dr Alison Roberts, Senior Advisor of Public Health Medicine, says typhoid fever is a bacterial infection contracted by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle or abdominal pains associated with constipation or diarrhoea.
"Travellers heading to the island of Vanua Levu should consider being immunised with a hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine and speak to their GP for further assistance."
Dr Roberts says if people are intending to travel to Fiji they should the following precautions while there. Drinking water should be boiled before drinking and hands should be washed thoroughly when preparing or eating food and after toilet use."
Meanwhile Dr Alison Roberts says travllers to Japan are being warned of a measles outbreak in Japan's southern Kanto region, including the capital city of Tokyo.
Alison Roberts says the World Health Organisation's Western Pacific Regional Office is warning of the outbreak, which infected 32 people between April 8th to April 14th.
"If you are planning to go to Japan shortly, adults should consider being immunised with the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella)."
Dr Roberts says children should be up to date with their scheduled immunisations but if parents are unclear whether their child is up to date they should refer to their child's Well Child Book or contact their local GP or practice nurse.
"Measles is an acute, highly contagious viral illness, usually passed from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Measles usually last for about ten days. The first couple of days include symptoms such as a fever, cough and sore eyes (conjunctivitis). A rash appears on the third to seventh day and the patient is most unwell during the first day or two after the rash appears", says Dr Alison Roberts."
For further travel information
ENDSFor further information please contact Victoria Evans on (04) 496 2036 or 021 802 622