Six baggage handlers at Frankfurt Airport have been diagnosed with malaria, most likely from a mosquito that arrived on an aircraft from Africa. Dr Bob Kass looks at what airport and luggage malaria is, why it is so often misdiagnosed, and how Australia keeps mosquitoes off inbound flights.
Read moreThe US CDC has issued a Level 2 travel alert for Zika virus disease in Bali. Dr Bob Kass explains what the alert means for Australian travellers, and who needs to take particular care.
Read moreThe ECDC has reported 429 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection across nine European countries in 2026, with Italy and Greece carrying the majority. Here is what travellers need to know about the risk and how to protect themselves.
Read moreUS measles cases have passed 2,300 for 2026, exceeding last year's full-year total. Dr Bob Kass asks whether the United States should lose its measles-free status, and what Australian travellers need to know about their own measles immunisation.
Read moreSocial media is full of negativity about vaccines, so it is worth applauding a success story when one comes along. Dr Bob Kass on Australia's RSV program, and why it is common sense for carers and travellers.
Read moreDeaths from a Japanese encephalitis outbreak in Assam have tripled in two weeks. We look at why the region is high risk and what it means for travellers.
Read moreThe rabies death of a child in northern Ontario, after a bat landed on his face while he slept, is a reminder that animal exposures are not always obvious, and that prompt action after any exposure saves lives.
Read moreThe United States coverage rates for kindergarten age children has now fallen below the desired target of 95%. Larger drops are being experienced in some communities around the country. Australia's coverage is also falling.
Read moreWA Health has confirmed a death from Murray Valley Encephalitis in the West Kimberley as the region heads into peak tourist season. With a record wet season behind it, mosquito-borne disease risk is elevated and travellers should take extra care.
Read moreThe largest World Cup yet runs across sixteen cities with very different conditions. What Australian travellers should plan for before they go, from measles and vaccinations to travel insurance.
Read moreIn May 2026, One Health (UK) published its first vector-borne disease surveillance report. It is important reading for travel health providers, and it helps quantify the risk of diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria for travellers.
Read moreAustralia has confirmed 221 diphtheria cases in 2026 across four states despite high immunisation rates. Dr Bob Kass discusses why vaccination rates are only one factor and what travellers should consider.
Read moreDr Bob Kass on the WHO Public Health Emergency declaration for the DRC Ebola outbreak - the Bundibugyo strain, the risk to East Africa, and what it means for travellers.
Read moreThe TGA has just given Qdenga the green light for Australia - a new vaccine in the fight against dengue fever. We take a look at what the approval actually means, how the vaccine works and when Australian travellers might realistically be able to get it.
Read moreDr Bob Kass on the public health story behind the cruise ship hantavirus headlines: WHO's role, what Argentina's 2018 outbreak teaches us and why pandemic potential is not the concern here.
Read moreThree deaths and a confirmed hantavirus case on a polar expedition cruise ship sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde. Dr Bob Kass on what we know so far and why person-to-person transmission is the key question.
Read moreAbove average rainfall is predicted during April and May in East Africa this year, bringing a higher risk of Rift Valley fever outbreaks. The FAO has triggered an early warning, with torrential rainfall already experienced in southern Kenya, Tanzania and South Sudan.
Read moreFrom 15 May the RSV vaccine will be free under the National Immunisation Program for all Australians over 75. Dr Bob Kass explains what the change means for older travellers.
Read moreVaccine-derived poliovirus has been detected twice in London sewage in 2026. We look at what sewage surveillance picks up and why high vaccination rates still matter.
Read moreA meningococcal B outbreak at Kent University has caused two deaths and prompted mass vaccination. What does it mean for Australian travellers?
Read moreFour cases of respiratory diphtheria have been notified in the Northern Territory. There have been two cases in Darwin and two in Alice Springs. An alert was issued 25 March 2026.
Read moreYellow fever cases are increasing across the Americas, with high mortality and wider spread, reinforcing the need for vaccination and public health measures.
Read moreOver 2,000 dengue cases were reported in Timor-Leste in February 2026, with flooding and the rainy season increasing mosquito breeding. Discover the risk areas, prevention...
Read moreCiguatera poisoning remains an underreported foodborne illness in tropical regions. This article discusses the recent Vanuatu outbreak, clinical features, environmental...
Read moreMalaria cases continue to be reported in the Rokan Hilir regency of the Province of Riau (central east Sumatra). The outbreak was declared an emergency in 2024...
Read moreCases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) have been identified in northern Ghana’s Savannah region, part of Africa’s high-risk “meningitis belt,” where dry seasonal winds may contribute to outbreaks.
Read moreThree cases of typhoid have been confirmed in the village of Hofoa, Tonga. According to the Ministry of Health, transmission is localised to 2 family groups and contact tracing is ongoing.
Read moreChina reports an increase in rabies cases for 2025, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and the golden rule to avoid all contact with animals while travelling.
Read moreTwo cases of Nipah virus infection have been reported in West Bengal, India, raising public health concerns due to the virus’s high fatality rate and potential human-to-human transmission.
Read moreHealth warnings have been issued after Japanese encephalitis was detected in sentinel chickens and a probable human case in southern NSW. Find out where the risk areas are, who is most vulnerable, and how to protect yourself from this serious mosquito-borne disease.
Read moreColombia is facing a yellow fever outbreak centered in Tolima, driven by low vaccination rates and forest-related transmission, posing serious risks to local communities and unvaccinated travellers.
Read moreHepatitis A is resurging in places once considered low risk, with Taiwan reporting its highest case numbers in eight years. For travellers, declining population immunity means vaccination...
Read moreDrug-Resistant Typhoid in a Returned Traveller A drug-resistant case of typhoid in a returned traveller to Germany. A letter to the CDC journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases..
Read moreMalaria cases are increasing in Sudan, with urban areas increasingly affected and health systems under pressure. Travellers, particularly those returning to visit family....
Read moreA wave of influenza is sweeping through Thailand, infecting more than 160,000 people and causing 100 deaths in just one month. The culprit - an aggressive H3N2...
Read moreWhooping cough is rising rapidly across the United States, with multiple infant deaths reported and case numbers surpassing pre pandemic levels...
Read moreGermany’s sewage surveillance picked up traces of wild poliovirus from abroad, revealing how silent carriers can transport pathogens across borders without a single symptom...
Read moreCanada has lost its measles elimination status, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced, following an outbreak that began in New Brunswick in October 2024 with over 5,000...
Read moreThe Kenyan meteorological department together with the Ministry of Health has developed an early warning system for epidemic malaria. The model focuses on temperature and rainfall...
Read moreAccording to news reports, the number of cases of hepatitis A continues to rise in Czechia. A surge in cases was first reported in March this year and over 2000 cases have now been reported..
Read moreAccording to news reports the butchering of dogs and cats for human meat consumption will soon be banned in Jakarta. The ban is welcomed by animal rights groups and sits well with the...
Read moreAs of October 8th,, 2025, 119 confirmed cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) have been reported by the Ministry of Health in Senegal. Most cases have come from the northern districts of Saint-Louis...
Read moreAccording to a report from CDC’s National Centre for Immunisation and Respiratory Diseases, 280 children died from influenza over a 12-month period to September 13, 2025, This report covers...
Read moreMore than forty thousand cases of dengue fever have been reported in Bangladesh in 2025. Over eighty percent have occurred in the last three months (July to September). Hospital admission...
Read moreFifty-eight deaths due to rabies have been reported in Vietnam in 2025 (first 9 months). This is in line with previous years (82 in 2023 and 89 in 2024). Deaths due to rabies are often reported...
Read moreAn outbreak of Ebola virus disease has been reported by WHO in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As of September 4, 2025, 28 suspected cases have been reported with 15 deaths...
Read moreMeasles outbreaks have been reported in 10 countries in the Americas region in 2025. According to PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation), 10, 139 cases of confirmed measles...
Read moreAccording to a surveillance report from The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 202 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infection have been reported...
Read moreAccording to PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation), 12,786 cases of confirmed Oropouche have been notified in the Americas Region to August this year...
Read moreAccording to media reports, the government of Western Samoa has closed schools to allow for the fumigation of mosquito breeding sites as a response to the dengue outbreak...
Read moreIt is unusual to speak about the mosquito-borne disease, Chikungunya, in the context of France. The disease is usually associated with outbreaks of disease...
Read moreTravel-related infections notified in England Vaccinations are generally the focus of a pretravel visit to a health professional. They are important...
Read moreHealth officials in Coconino County, Arizona, have recently confirmed a fatal case of pneumonic plague. According to the report...
Read moreThree more Japanese encephalitis-related deaths have been confirmed by health officials in Assam. A total of 14...
Read moreIncreased cases of Hepatitis A in several European countries. A higher-than-expected number of cases of hepatitis A have been reported in several European countries..
Read moreAccording to the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) in Singapore, 2 recent cases of Zika virus disease have been reported in Singapore...
Read moreThe UK Health Security Agency has recently reported (June 18, 2025) the death of a British traveller who had a stray dog exposure while travelling...
Read moreAustralia’s "measles free" status under pressure State governments are taking Australia’s “measles free” status seriously...
Read moreThe Ministry of Health in the Cook Islands has officially declared an outbreak of dengue fever on Rarotonga, the largest island in the group...
Read moreAs of March 2nd, 2026, more than 13,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Sri Lanka this year. There have been four dengue related deaths. Weekly notifications exceed 1,500
Read moreAccording to health sources in Papua New Guinea, poliovirus type 2 has been detected in the stools of 2 healthy children...
Read moreThe triple antigen doesn’t receive a lot of attention as a “travel vaccine”. More exotic vaccines like typhoid, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis receive far more..
Read moreConsider having the seasonal flu vaccination if travelling in 2025 Australia is about to enter its flu season (June to September)...
Read moreOne hundred and thirty-one cases have been notified in 4 countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru)...
Read moreAccording to news reports, another child has died from measles in the Texas outbreak. This brings to two the number...
Read moreThe channel country of western Queensland has experienced one of the wettest periods since the 1974 floods. More than 600mm...
Read moreEurope is a popular spring and summer time destination for Australian travellers. While health concerns are rarely high on...
Read moreA rapid increase in the number of chikungunya cases has been reported on the island of Reunion since late February 2025...
Read moreAccording to news reports, renowned pianist, Betsy Arakawa, the partner of Gene Hackman died from the complications of cardiopulmonary syndrome caused by an organism called hantavirus
Read moreA total of 164 cases have been notified across 9 jurisdictions of the United States...
Read more94 cases of melioidosis have been reported to Queensland Health tor 2025 year to date (1 Jan – 23 February). This is more than 3 times the number of cases for the same period in 2024.
Read moreInternational health regulations are enforced for yellow fever. You've had a pleasant few days in Buenos Aires and are just about to board the plane
Read moreTravel immunisations such as hepatitis A and typhoid can now be accessed through community pharmacy in South Australia.
Read moreIn October 2024, the Ministry of Health in Costa Rica updated the geographic areas considered at risk of yellow fever...
Read moreIn a world recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing we need are unsubstantiated media reports on another virus...
Read moreAccording to news reports, the Cuban Ministry of Public Health has issued a health alert regarding hepatitis A, a common viral disease...
Read moreHealth officials across the world have been monitoring an outbreak of an “unknown illness” in the DRC since...
Read moreIn a very comprehensive recent publication (December 2024) on waterborne disease, CDC has outlined...
Read moreThe recent report of a food handler with hepatitis A again highlights the importance of hepatitis A vaccination...
Read moreThe Department of Health in Colombia has reported 12 cases of yellow fever in the department of Tolima. Tolima is in the Andean region of...
Read moreAccording to recent media reports, an Australian backpacker has died from the presumed effects of methanol poisoning. She had been on a...
Read moreAccording to news reports, Japan is experiencing a major outbreak of ‘walking pneumonia’. More than 6,000 cases have been reported...
Read moreLassa fever is still being reported in Nigeria, but the weekly numbers are much lower than earlier in the year...
Read moreAn outbreak of Marburg disease has been reported by WHO in Rwanda. 58 cases and 13 deaths have been reported..
Read moreAccording to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), chikungunya virus disease (CHIKVD) continues to cause...
Read moreMore than 18,000 cases of measles have been reported to the European Surveillance System..
Read moreA yellow fever surveillance update has been provided by the Pan American...
Read moreThe global prevalence of counterfeit medical products is a growing concern, with international...
Read moreA trip to Africa is on the bucket list for many. Travel itineraries can vary considerably as can...
Read more“Sloth fever” or oropouche is a viral disease of Sloths and non-human primates and transmitted to...
Read moreThe upcoming 3-day visit of Pope Francis to Timor-Leste is expected to draw nearly 1 million...
Read moreMuch has been written about the risk of avian influenza exposure to humans. It is currently a risk for...
Read moreAccording to news reports, more than 100 cases have been reported in the week to August 11th...
Read moreAccording to WHO sources, several wastewater samples were found to be positive...
Read moreA rapid surge in Mpox cases in Africa has prompted WHO to declare a global...
Read moreThe outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Melbourne has attracted a great deal of media attention...
Read moreBEAT THE HEAT: Preventing heat-related illness (HRI) on holiday...
Read moreA decision on whether to take malaria prophylaxis is often difficult...
Read moreThe risk of exposure to tuberculosis in travel is very low for most types of travel...
Read moreAccording to the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC), 11 cases...
Read moreAn outbreak of Zika is currently being reported in the Maharashtra state of India. Cases were first...
Read moreAccording to the World Health Organisation (WHO) more than 7.6 million cases of dengue fever...
Read moreVomiting and diarrhoea in a group of hikers visiting the Grand Canyon in the United States this summer.
Read moreAccording to a report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 8 infants have died from whooping...
Read moreAn estimated 59,000 people die from rabies each year. While this is down considerably from figures prior...
Read moreThe number of reported cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) in the United States...
Read moreMillions of pilgrims attend the Umrah and Hajj in Saudi Arabia each year. These are “mass gatherings”...
Read moreThe Nigerian Centre for Disease Control has recently reported (28 May 2024) 14 cases of Lassa fever...
Read morePolio eradication program: Where do we stand in 2024? When a global polio eradication program
Read moreBolivian health officials have recently reported 2 yellow fever deaths in the northern region of the La Paz Department...
Read moreMosquito avoidance measures are important, even if you think the destination is low risk...
Read moreA case of Japanese Encephalitis has been reported in the province of Dak Lak in the Central Highlands...
Read moreNorth America (USA and Canada) and Europe are low risk for exotic disease. Travellers...
Read moreMore than 200 cases have been reported in the Western medical division of Fiji and a further 31...
Read moreThe Ministry of Health in Colombia (Medellin) has recently reported a large...
Read moreAccording to WHO (World Health Organisation), cholera continues to be a major...
Read moreA human case of laboratory confirmed Avian Influenza (H5N1) has been reported...
Read moreRSV is a highly infectious respiratory tract virus. It is recognized as one of the most common...
Read moreA very large outbreak of measles is being reported in South Sudan. According to Medecins Sans...
Read moreNumber of cases has jumped significantly against the same reporting period last year. It is also...
Read moreIt might be the end of summer, but mozzies are still an issue. Ross River Virus disease...
Read moreThe first case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has just been reported in Estonia for 2024...
Read moreThe influenza vaccine has just become available (March 10), but there’s no need to panic...
Read moreIMD is a bacterial infection which can cause serious health issues including septicaemia...
Read moreIf you are a “doggie person” and it isn’t a particular breed you might have few concerns...
Read moreIn a new fight against Dengue Fever, Brazil has become the first country to roll out a national...
Read moreThe island of Comoros is now reporting Cholera. This latest African outbreak started 2 years ago...
Read moreCases of vaccine-associated polio are being reported in the media. I thought polio was almost...
Read moreVery few infectious diseases are fully eradicated. We think of smallpox (which has been eradicated)...
Read more"Bring back memories, not measles, from your holidays". This was a dramatic headline from NSW Health in August 2023. Two cases had been reported...
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