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International Reports of Vaccine Preventable Childhood Infectious Diseases
Update: September 14, 2007
International travel can expose Canadians to traditional childhood infectious diseases such as polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria that, while are no longer common in Canada, are common in many other countries in the world.
Canadians travelling internationally should ensure that their routine childhood immunizations are up to date before travelling, regardless of their destination. The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that Canadians travelling internationally consult a physician or travel medicine clinic 6 - 8 weeks prior to departure for an individual risk assessment to determine their individual health risks and their need for primary and/or booster immunization. For comprehensive information on the recommended immunization schedules for infants, children and adults in Canada, readers are referred to the Canadian Immunization Guide prepared by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
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The Importance of Keeping Childhood Immunizations Up-to-Date Due to the high percentage of Canadians who are immunized through our national childhood immunization program and as a result of Canada's high level of sanitation, Canadians, even if not fully immunized themselves, are protected in large part from these infectious diseases. To maintain this situation, and because small localized outbreaks may occur at any time, Canadians must remain diligent with respect to keeping their routine immunizations up to date. Prevention of infection through immunization is a lifelong process. As we age, our vaccine-acquired immunity against some of the above noted illnesses may decrease. As a result, additional vaccination may be recommended to boost one's immunity. It is important to note that public health infrastructure initiatives such as national immunization programs vary around the world and, in many countries, may not be as developed or as successful as here in Canada. When travelling to an area where childhood illnesses may be of special concern, an alternative or accelerated childhood immunization schedule may be recommended for small children, based on an individual risk assessment. |
International Reports of Traditional Childhood Infectious Diseases
The Public Health Agency of Canada is aware of the following official reports of epidemic and outbreak activity of polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria, as reported by the referenced international sources. Travellers who visit areas where epidemics of traditional childhood diseases occur regularly should be aware that outbreaks can occur at any time.
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Country and Source of
information
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Date
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Disease
|
Synopsis
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United Kingdom [Health Protection Agency] |
September 12, 2007 |
Measles |
Region(s) |
England, Wales, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Period |
January – August 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Incidence |
480 cases The regional breakdown for cases in the UK is as follows:
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Additional Details |
Up until the 10th of June 2007 only 136 cases of measles had been confirmed. With the total now at 480, the number of cases is increasing at a higher rate than usual for this time of year. The increase in cases this year has been noted particularly in communities where vaccine uptake is lower, including in children on traveller sites, but cases are currently occurring in unvaccinated school age children. The HPA advises all children to be fully immunised with two doses of MMR before they return to school. |
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Democratic Republic of Congo [WHO] |
August 21, 2007 |
Polio |
Region(s) |
Bandundu | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Period |
January – August 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Incidence |
27 cases | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Additional Details |
The most recent onset of paralysis was 22 June 2007. The last supplementary immunization activities (SIA's) in this area were on 25 July; the next is scheduled to start 6 September. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Angola [WHO] |
August 10, 2007 |
Polio |
Region(s) |
Luanda, Benguela | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Period |
January – August 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Incidence |
10 cases | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Additional Details |
The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 8 july. The next Nationwide Immunization Day (NID) will be held on 31 August. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo [WHO] |
August 10, 2007 |
Polio |
Region(s) |
Equateur, Luanda, Benguela | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Period |
January – July 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Incidence |
Democratic Republic of Congo: Angola: |
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Additional Details |
Both countries are continuing synchronized, cross-border outbreak response activities. Large-scale, supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) were launched nationwide in Angola, and in the affected areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Equateur and Bandundu provinces) on 25 July, to reach more than 8 million children under the age of five years. Further immunization campaigns will be conducted later in the year. |
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Switzerland - update |
July 31, 2007 |
Measles |
Region(s) |
Lucerne, Bern, Geneva, Zug |
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Period |
November 2006 – July 2007 |
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Incidence |
483 cases
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Additional Details |
No epidemiological links between the outbreaks have been confirmed, but 27 viral strains obtained from the saliva of cases from different parts of the country belonged to the D5 genotype. The monthly number of cases has been increasing steadily over this eight-month period, reaching a maximum of 108 cases in June. |
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Japan [National Institute of Infectious Diseases Japan] |
June 01, 2007 |
Measles |
Region(s) |
South Kanto, which includes Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, and Chiba prefectures, is considered to be the centre of the epidemic; however, cases have been reported and continue to increase nationwide. |
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Period |
January 1 to May 23, 2007 |
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Incidence |
Among children: 691 cases have been reported from paediatric sentinels Among adolescents: 208 cases have been reported from hospital sentinels |
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Additional Details |
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Switzerland [Eurosurveillance] |
May 14, 2007 |
Measles |
Region(s) |
Geneva |
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Period |
March – April 2007 |
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Incidence |
11 Cases |
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Additional Details |
Genotyping was conducted for four cases. One was not conclusive, and genotype D5 was identified for the other three. D5 genotype is currently associated with a large outbreak in the canton of Lucerne with more than 100 cases |
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