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Yellow Fever

Reviewed: 22 May 2024, 14:20 NZST

About yellow feverYellow fever (YF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. It is endemic in tropical areas of Africa (34 countries) and Latin America (13 countries). Vaccination is the most important and effective measure against YF providing effective immunity within 30 days for 99% of those vaccinated.The disease is spread by mosquitoes that bite mostly during the day. Yellow fever can cause a serious haemorr...read more

Zika virus

Reviewed: 14 May 2024, 11:40 NZST

What is Zika?Zika virus is a flavivirus and is closely related to Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, Dengue, and yellow fever viruses. Since its discovery in Uganda in 1948 Zika has continued to expand its geographic range, from Africa and Asia to Pacific Islands, then, further afield to South and Central America and Caribbean. Transmission Zika, like dengue and chikungunya viruses are transmitted by mosquitos mostly active during the daytime. Ra...read more

Dengue fever

Reviewed: 9 February 2024, 14:38 NZDT

Dengue Fever is a viral illness spread by infected mosquitoes. Dengue can make you very sick, and can be life threatening. There are four types of the virus that cause dengue fever – type 1, 2, 3, and 4. People can become immune to one type once they have been infected with it, but can still get sick from the other types of dengue if exposed because cross-protection immunity among the four dengue virus types is limited. Catching different type...read more

Mosquito-borne illnesses

Reviewed: 7 February 2024, 10:35 NZDT

Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses are common in the tropical and sub-tropical climates in many Pacific Islands, in North Queensland (Australia), Asia (including India), tropical Africa and Latin/South America. West Nile virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. Dengue fever, chikungunya virus and Zika virus are spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito and cannot be spread directly f...read more

Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania: outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)

Posted: 17 April 2023, 10:49 NZST

The Governments of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the United Republic of Tanzania declared their first outbreaks of Marburg virus disease (MVD), on 13 February 2023 and 21 March 2023, respectively. The virus is transmitted from fruit bats to humans. Human-to-human transmission is possible through contact with body fluids (such as blood, saliva, urine, vomit, or faeces) of an infected person and contaminated surfaces or materials (such as ...read more

Ukraine: security situation

Reviewed: 11 April 2023, 10:44 NZST

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing, with attacks and heavy fighting occurring in several areas of Ukraine, including in and around Kyiv and other major cities. There are ongoing reports of gunfire, artillery bombardments, explosions and missile strikes. Civilians are being impacted. There is a real risk to life. There is also concern about military activity and shelling around Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, particularly the Zaporizhzhi...read more

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