Health warning

Brazil: Dengue Fever Crisis in Rio de Janeiro

Date: March 26th, 2008 |

Some 33,000 people have contracted dengue fever and 48 have died in Rio de Janeiro state this year in what appears to be an epidemic of the disease. Already more people have died this year than in all of 2002, the last year Rio had a dengue epidemic, and the vast majority have been in [read more]

Bolivia: Yellow Fever Vaccinations Required

Date: March 20th, 2008 |

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The U.S. Embassy in La Paz reported March 14 that airlines flying to Bolivia have recently been refusing to accept passengers who do not have valid yellow fever vaccinations. Because of recent heavy rains the government has decreed that arriving travelers must be vaccinated for the disease. The Embassy said it is seeking further clarification [read more]

Paraguay: Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever Threats

Date: February 20th, 2008 |

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Some 4,000 people demanding vaccinations against yellow fever blocked a highway near the capital Asuncion a week after confirmation of the first incidence of the disease in 34 years. Health authorities announced that the five cases originated in a remote farm community and none of the victims had died. The blockade snarled traffic for hours [read more]

St. Maarten: Water Shortage Should Be Resolved by Peak Tourist Season

Date: December 13th, 2007 |

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This Dutch territory that shares its Caribbean island with the French territory of St. Martin has been experiencing water shortages that have left some residents without water for at least five days. People are collecting rain water for bathing and cooking while authorities say they will begin buying water from French St. Martin to slake [read more]

Dominican Republic: Contaminated Water in Santo Domingo

Date: December 6th, 2007 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo reported that following tropical storm Noel and recent heavy rains, the water supply of Santo Domingo became contaminated and should not be drunk or used for cooking or brushing teeth. Visitors should use bottled water that has not been exposed to floodwaters, should boil all tap water or disinfect [read more]

Italy: Naples Garbage Cleanup Making Progress

Date: March 26th, 2008 |

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The piles of uncollected garbage that plagued Naples the past several months are gone from the center of the city thanks to the efforts of “trash tsar” Gianni De Gennaro, but the damage has been done to the area’s tourism industry. Business at hotels and restaurants has dried up and the city is largely empty [read more]

Argentina: Yellow Fever Case near Paraguay Border

Date: March 6th, 2008 |

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A yellow fever outbreak in Paraguay that killed eight people has spread to Argentina, where a farm worker in Misiones province that borders Paraguay contracted the disease. The cases in Paraguay were the first incidences of the mosquito-borne illness since 1974. A vaccination campaign is under way in the Argentine provinces that border [read more]

Brazil: Possible Yellow Fever Deaths

Date: January 17th, 2008 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia reported that recent fatal cases of possible yellow fever have occurred in Goias and Brazil’s Federal District (including Brasilia). Tests could take weeks to confirm that yellow fever was the culprit, but meanwhile travelers should be aware that vaccination for yellow fever is recommended for all rural areas of the [read more]

Uganda: Wildlife Official Says Rwenzori Region Safe from Ebola

Date: December 13th, 2007 |

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Some 116 people have caught the deadly Ebola virus in western Uganda’s Bundibugyo district, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 30 have died. Wildlife officials in the popular Rwenzori region were quick to assure visitors that national parks and tourist areas are outside the danger zones, and tourist facilities in the parks are clean [read more]

India: Monkeys in Delhi Get Riled Up

Date: November 15th, 2007 |

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Delhi is facing a monkey crisis as the city grows into the surrounding countryside forcing forest monkeys into urban areas. Recent incidents have locals worried that things are getting out of hand: Delhi’s deputy mayor died when he fell after a fight with monkeys, and a lone monkey on a rampage bit and scratched 25 [read more]