Recent Outbreaks
Plague, Democratic Republic of Congo
According to World Health Organization (WHO) report, a suspected pneumonic plague outbreak was reported in 2 health zones of Haut-Uele District, Oriental Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). An outbreak of plague was reported in Ituri District of Oriental Province in June 2006.
Chikungunya Fever: India and Indian Ocean Islands
Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, including the daytime-biting Aedes aegypti and Ae.albopictus species.
Symptoms can include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain with or without swelling, low back pain, and rash. The symptoms are very similar to those of dengue, but, unlike dengue, there is no hemorrhagic or shock syndrome form. This disease is almost always self-limited and rarely fatal.
Recent Outbreaks: Measles and Mumps Outbreaks
Measles and mumps remain common diseases in many parts of the world, including some developed countries. For travelers, the risk for exposure to measles and mumps can be high, and both diseases can be prevented by the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
Outbreaks of measles in several European countries (Belarus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine) that were reported in 2006 have waned in all countries except Ukraine, where the outbreak is ongoing. In addition, measles outbreaks are being reported from Kenya and Tanzania. A measles outbreak in Venezuela, South America that began in April 2006 has also waned.
Recent Outbreaks: Global status of Polio
According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI),* only 4 countries (Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan) remain polio-endemic, an all-time low. Egypt, which had been considered polio-endemic, has remained free of poliovirus transmission for over 22 months.
Plans are under way for immunization response activities in all affected countries.