Yellow fever shot farce at airport makes Bangalorean see red - Quarantined for no certificate

His forced quarantine on returning from Colombia was a charade

It was an experience that left him both rattled and fuming. When film expert George Kutty returned last week from Colombia, he was stopped at immigration at the Bengaluru International Airport for not getting the yellow fever shot, a prerequisite for those returning from many African and South American countries.

What followed was nothing less than an ordeal for the 62-year-old Bangalorean, angered by what he calls the “farce” of the quarantine process that followed. In the middle of the night, immigration insisted he be sent to a private hospital in Ulsoor to be quarantined for six days (as he had already travelled for three days, he would have had to stay put in isolation for three more).

‘Archaic and racist’

Mr. Kutty says that the rule itself is “archaic” and one that smacks of “racism”. But, even if that is the rule, he asks, of what use is it if the only purpose is to make people pay an exorbitant amount as hospital fee for the quarantine period and then send them back home.

The hospital issued him a bill for Rs. 10,000 (with a waiver of Rs. 3,000), which included bed charges, nursing charges and resident duty doctor fee for facilities he never used. All the “treatment” he got was three sessions where his temperature and blood pressure were checked. He even got a discharge slip that states that he was quarantined, monitored and declared fit. In the meanwhile, not only did Mr. Kutty not quarantine himself, he also (with the doctor’s permission) visited Kolar to attend a film event.

“If they were serious about the rule, they would have implemented it sincerely at three levels: when I left the country, by the airline (which never asked me for any vaccination) and then when I come back, where I am subjected to a real quarantine process,” he contends.

Rules are rolls: official

An immigration official, who spoke to The Hindu on condition of anonymity, denied that the rule was being enforced arbitrarily. “Once in a while people get by but the rulebook mandates that all travellers entering the country from African and South American countries get the yellow fever vaccination. When asked why Mr. Kutty was not stopped when he was leaving for Colombia, he said that the government does not enforce the rule for those leaving India. “We cannot comment on whether there are any real cases of yellow fever as we immediately refer them to the empanelled hospital.”

The hospital doctor remained unavailable for comment.

Source

Pan American Health Organization: Dengue Alert

PAHO / Epidemiological alert: Dengue : June 21, 2013 

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommends that Member States, especially those in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, which are entering the rainy season with a higher rate of dengue transmission, continue preparation and response efforts, based on lessons learned and using the Integrated Dengue Management Strategies (IDS-Dengue) approach for prevention and control, with an emphasis on reducing deaths.

Current situation

From the beginning of 2013 up to epidemiological week (EW) 21, there have been 868,653 cases of dengue, 8,406 cases of severe dengue and 346 deaths (case fatality rate of 0.04%)in the Region of the Americas. The circulation of the 4 serotypes in the Region increases the risk of severe forms of dengue.

In the first semester of 2013, outbreaks of dengue were registered in Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic. In places like Peru, cases were registered where there had previously not been locally acquired dengue cases.

Given the usual pattern of dengue in the Region, an increase in cases is expected in the coming months in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. This increase would coincide with the rainy season of those countries.

This alert is to advise Member States that are entering the period of increased dengue transmission, to continue coordination with other sectors, based on the activities in the IDS-Dengue and comprehensive outbreak response plans.

 

Member States are also encouraged to adapt health services to receive a greater volume of patients, as well as strengthening and providing updates for health personnel on detecting warning signs of dengue and on the clinical management of cases.

 

Source: PAHO / Dengue: June 21 2013

JAPAN/ Over 10,000 cases of Rubella recorded so far in Japan this year

JAPAN: The National Institute of Infectious Diseases : June 18, 2013

 

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported Tuesday that Rubella in Japan has reached 10,000 cases early this month. As of June 9, there were 10,102 cases in the country, four times higher than last year’s 2,392 cases. The Institute reported last month that 5,000 cases were recorded in the first four months of 2013.  That implies that the past two months have easily doubled the number of cases.

The latest week’s cases were highest in Osaka and Tokyo Prefectures with new 129 and 82 cases, respectively.

Mapping the spread of the virus may no longer be based on prefecture proximity, as both prefectures are separated by the Chubu Region, or central Japan. With about 800 cases every seven days during the earlier weeks, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases should’ve reckoned its effect with such escalating cases.

 

The epidemic has been more prevalent among men from 20 to 40 years old, amounting to 75 percent of the cases.

Also known as German Measles or Three-Day Measles, Rubella is considered a mild infection except for those who are pregnant.

 

The virus, when caught by someone pregnant, may cause severe congenital complications like growth and mental retardation, deafness, and heart defects among others. Rubella may also cause stillbirth.

 

The symptoms of Rubella are not easily noticed and may be mistaken as those of flu so pregnant women are always told to take precautions especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Source; Japan daily press: June 18, 2013.Over 10,000 cases of Rubella recorded so far in Japan this year

 

Source: PRO/EDR> Rubella - Japan (10): ongoing epidemic

Yellow Fever in Ethiopia - new cases reported after 45 years

Released: June 14, 2013

What is the current situation?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported six confirmed cases of yellow fever in Ethiopia. These are the first confirmed cases of yellow fever in Ethiopia in more than 45 years.The first case in this outbreak occurred in January 2013. All cases have been reported in the South Omo Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ regions of Ethiopia. In response, the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia launched an emergency yellow fever mass-vaccination campaign in June.

How can travelers protect themselves?

• CDC recommends the yellow fever vaccine for travelers to most parts of Ethiopia. Learn more about CDC’s yellow fever recommendations for Ethiopia on the Ethiopia destination page.
• Travelers can protect themselves from yellow fever by getting yellow fever vaccine and preventing mosquito bites.

Get yellow fever vaccine:

• Visit a yellow fever vaccination (travel) clinic and ask for a yellow fever vaccine.
  • You should receive this vaccine at least 10 days before your trip.
  • After receiving the vaccine, you will receive a signed and stamped International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, sometimes called the “yellow card”), which you must bring with you on your trip.
  • Protection from the vaccine lasts for 10 years.
  • In rare cases, the yellow fever vaccine can have serious and sometimes fatal side effects. People older than 60 years and people with weakened immune systems might be at higher risk of developing these side effects. Also, there are special concerns for pregnant and nursing women. Talk to your doctor about whether you should get the vaccine.

Prevent mosquito bites:

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent as directed.
• Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection. Use products with the following active ingredients:
  • DEET (Products containing DEET include Off!, Cutter, Sawyer, and Ultrathon)
  • Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin) (Products containing picaridin include Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan [outside the US])
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD (Products containing OLE include Repel and Off! Botanicals)
  • IR3535 (Products containing IR3535 include Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and SkinSmart)
• Always follow product directions and reapply as directed:
  • If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
  • Follow package directions when applying repellent on children. Avoid applying repellent to their hands, eyes, and mouths.
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). You can buy pre-treated clothing and gear or treat them yourself:
  • Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings. See the product information to find out how long the protection will last.
  • If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions carefully.
  • Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in screened or air-conditioned rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

Source