Archive for the ‘Exotic Diseases’ Category
Monkeypox and Australian travellers
July 26th, 2022Monkeypox is a risk to only a very small cohort of travellers. Monkeypox spreads in different ways. The virus can spread from person-to-person through: direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex touching items (such as […]
Zika and Travellers
February 2nd, 2016Zika virus has exploded onto the collective consciousness lately, due to media stories about birth defects in Brazil being possibly linked to Zika virus. Another reason to seek good medical advice before travel Frankly this is just one of the many things that are out there and pose a risk to travellers. (This is why […]
Lyssavirus : Look but don’t touch
September 14th, 2015This blog post has been updated today Sept 14, 2014 The report in the media about Lyssavirus being found in a flying fox in Brisbane is a good reminder about LOOK BUT DONT TOUCH. Flying fox are perfectly safe if you don’t touch them. Anyone who has had physical contact with a flying fox should seek […]
HIV and Travel
October 26th, 2013Guest Blogger – Dr Wendy Munckhof At the 2013 Australasian HIV and AIDS conference held in Darwin this week, it was reported that 1.6 million people worldwide died of AIDS in 2012, and more than 10 million people are currently taking medication to treat HIV infection. Most of the burden of HIV infection globally is […]
5 major parasite infections of humans
August 17th, 2013Most human parasites are, in some fashion, major (important, serious, or significant), to the individual infected. Some human parasites are major or important by virtue of being extremely common, although they are not particularly harmful, e.g. E. vermicularis, which is almost a commensal. Some parasites are major in view of their serious effect on the […]
Norovirus / Viral Gastroenteritis
January 17th, 2013There was a recent story on the 7.30 report about Norovirus. Most particularly about the new strain of Norovirus known as Sydney – because it was first reported here in Australia. This new strain is circulating in the USA and UK. As the name implies this is a virus. Norovirus is notable because it is […]
Sleeping Sickness in European Travellers to Kenya
March 9th, 2012Recently there have been two cases of sleeping sickness reported in European travellers who had visited slightly different parts of the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya, one traveller was from Germany and the other from Belgium. Thankfully both persons recovered. Prior to this, there had been no reported cases in the Masai Mara for […]
Hookworms may help patients with coeliac disease
October 23rd, 2011Hookworms may provide a key to treating coeliac disease, according to research undertaken in Australia Persons with Coeliac disease cannot tolerate the wheat protein, gluten, in their diet. This is a challenge as they cannot eat regular bread, pasta, and even some medications. The study found that infection with a common species of hookworm (necator […]
