Il Comitato svizzero di esperti per la medicina di viaggio (CEMV) - un organo della Società svizzera di medicina tropicale e dei viaggi (FMH) - ha ridisegnato il sito web Safetravel® e lo ha rinominato HealthyTravel.ch. Il sito web continua a offrire gratuitamente raccomandazioni di base di medicina di viaggio per i viaggiatori. I professionisti possono anche abbonarsi a informazioni e raccomandazioni addizionali sulla medicina di viaggio, come informazioni approfondite specifiche per paese, raccomandazioni di vaccinazione con opinioni di esperti, mappe dettagliate (incluse le raccomandazioni sulla malaria), fogli informativi (incluse, per esempio, informazioni sul dosaggio della profilassi della malaria) e altri importanti contenuti sulla medicina di viaggio. Questi possono essere utilizzati per le consultazioni di medicina di viaggio con pazienti e clienti e possono essere compilati individualmente per i viaggiatori, stampati o inviati elettronicamente. Le raccomandazioni e i contenuti di HealthyTravel.ch corrispondono alle raccomandazioni del Comitato svizzero di esperti per la medicina di viaggio. Sono sviluppati in collaborazione con l'Ufficio federale della sanità pubblica (UFSP). Il sito è in costruzione e sarà continuamente ampliato con contenuti e aggiornamenti addizionali. Si prega di ricordare che tutti i contenuti disponibili sul sito web HealthyTravel.ch sono protetti da copyright e non possono essere ceduti a terzi. Maggiori informazioni possono essere trovate nel volantino (LINK). Il Comitato svizzero di esperti per la medicina di viaggio sarà lieto di rispondere a qualsiasi domanda su info@healthytravel.ch!

Since the beginning of the year and until mid-April, a total of 1'053 suspected yellow fever cases have been reported from Uganda.

So far this year, 35 chikungunya cases have been registered in Uruguay; 18 of them were locally transmitted and originated in the department of Paysandú.

According to health officials in Galveston County in Texas, USA, murine typhus (R. typhi) is on the rise. Four cases have been reported so far this year, and they are likely to increase as temperatures rise. Since 2014, the number of cases has been cumulative. In 2014, there was only one reported case; last year, there were 54, according to the health district; in fact, the number is likely higher.Murine typhus is caused by rickettsiae (organisms found worldwide and classified as bacteria), which are transmitted to humans by fleas. Symptoms include chills, headache, fever and rash. There is no vaccine; the disease can be treated with antibiotics.

Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the world. This year, Hajj begins on 26 June 2023. Normally, about three million Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca. For Hajj 2023, the KSA Ministry of Health has announced that regulations have been restored to the pre-pandemic situation; there are no longer COVID-19 precautions and age restrictions for pilgrims. As a precaution, the KSA recommends that pregnant women and young children postpone performing Hajj and Umrah. Umrah is a shorter pilgrimage for Muslims that is performed as part of the Hajj ritual, but can also be undertaken at any time.

Nigeria reports 1'686 suspected meningitis cases (124 fatal) since early October 2022. The majority of cases have been recorded in the north of the country, but other regions are also affected (see map).Seasonal meningitis epidemics occur in sub-Saharan Africa primarily during the dry season, usually from December to June. They decline rapidly with the onset of rains. Generally, meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and X are responsible for these outbreaks. The disease spreads by droplets from person to person. If symptoms (high fever, severe headache and vomiting) occur, a doctor should be consulted immediately and antibiotic therapy started, as the disease can lead to life-threatening conditions within hours. As a prophylaxis, vaccination against the main meningitis strains is available for adults and children over 1 year of age.

Since the start of the chikungunya outbreak in Paraguay in October 2022, there have been 77'790 confirmed and probable chikungunya cases. All regions of the country reported cases. Nearly 6'000 cases have been identified in the last three weeks, mainly concentrated in Central, Asunción, and Alto Paraná, but expansion of the epidemic is also observed outside the metropolitan region.

Since 2022, Indonesia has seen an increase in suspected and confirmed measles cases compared to previous years. Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 2'161 suspected measles cases have been reported in 18 of Indonesia's 38 provinces, mainly from West Java, Central Papua, and Banten.

As of 31 March 2023, it is no longer possible to trek on your own in Nepal. Travelers must use the services of a licensed trekking guide and obtain a TIMS card (for a fee) through authorized trekking agencies registered with the government of Nepal. This (binding!) decision was made to avoid risks and accidents that have occurred in the past with tourists traveling alone.

Since the beginning of 2023, 47 cases of tick-borne encephalitis have been confirmed in Poland, which is more than a 3x increase compared to the same period in 2022.Lyme disease cases have also increased (2'753 cases).