On 24 July 2012, the Ministry of Health of Uganda reported an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever from Kibaale district, Midwestern Uganda. As of 7 August 2012, 60 suspected cases, including 16 deaths, have been reported in Uganda.
From April to early July 2012 an unusual number and pattern of fatalities among young children were reported by Kantha Bopa Children’s Hospital in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. The patients presented with fever, respiratory distress and signs of encephalitis, and most of the children were under 3 years old.
The Cambodian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) are currently investigating a number of cases an undiagnosed illness that has resulted in the deaths of several children in Cambodia in the past 2 months. According to the WHO, the latest laboratory results indicate that “a significant proportion of the samples tested positive for Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes hand foot and mouth disease”.
As of May 2012, Vietnam continues to see sustained high incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) since the beginning of the year. China, Hong Kong (China), Macao (China) and Singapore have been reporting an increase in number of cases.
It is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites when staying in the affected areas in order to prevent becoming infected with the virus. How can travelers prevent mosquito bites?