Travel Archives - Illawarra Medical Centre https://illawarramedical.com.au/category/travel/ Providing superior health care to families and local businesses in the Ballajura area for more than 25 years Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:09:31 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Rabies cases on the rise in Bali https://illawarramedical.com.au/rabies-cases-on-the-rise-in-bali/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rabies-cases-on-the-rise-in-bali Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:05:41 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=8852 While Bali is known as a favourite travel destination for Western Australians, it’s also becoming increasingly known as a rabies hotspot, with more than 39,000 bite incidents recorded in 2024 and cases continuing to rise in 2025. In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at rabies and how you can best protect yourself […]

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While Bali is known as a favourite travel destination for Western Australians, it’s also becoming increasingly known as a rabies hotspot, with more than 39,000 bite incidents recorded in 2024 and cases continuing to rise in 2025.

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at rabies and how you can best protect yourself when travelling to Bali and other locations where this deadly disease is present.

What is rabies?

Rabies is an infection that affects your brain and central nervous system. It’s caused by a virus called a lyssavirus.

Humans can get rabies from bites or scratches from infected animals and through contact with the virus through the eyes, mouth, or nose.

While there are many animals that can carry rabies, including bats, monkeys and foxes, the majority of rabies in humans comes through bites from dogs.

Australia is one of the few countries in the world that does not have rabies; however, many popular destinations for Australian tourists do – including Bali.

Bali’s rise in rabies

In 2024, Bali recorded more than 39,000 bite incidents in people who had been bitten by rabies-carrying animals, with an additional 8,800 bite incidents and at least six human deaths recorded up to in 2025 (up to March).

As a result of this increase in rabies infections, Bali Health Authorities recently declared red zones in several locations, including the popular tourist areas of Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua and Jimbara, as well as the Mengwi District which covers Canggu’s Pererenan Beach.

bali_beach_boats_holiday

Symptoms

Rabies symptoms may start with a fever, sore throat, vomiting and headaches before progressing to more pronounced symptoms, including:

  • a changed mental state, agitation or hyperactivity
  • tremors
  • hydrophobia (fear of water)
  • aerophobia (fear of air)
  • dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • too much saliva in your mouth
  • enlarged pupils

Rabies symptoms can appear from one week to a year after exposure, but will usually appear 2 to 3 months after contact with the virus. As the incubation period for rabies can be long, it’s important to seek advice and get immunised against rabies after even a minor scratch or bite, to prevent the disease from developing.

Once symptoms appear, rabies is 100 percent fatal, so it’s important to get yourself treated as soon as you have been exposed to a potentially infected animal.

Treatment

Immediate treatment following a bite or scratch from an animal can help stop the infection from developing and becoming fatal.

If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal while overseas, you should:

  • wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes straight away
  • after washing, use an iodine-containing medicine or anti-viral medicine
  • do not cover the wound
  • see a doctor as soon as you can — even if you’ve had the rabies vaccine

The doctor may recommend treatment to reduce the risk of infection, including a combination of multiple doses of rabies vaccine given over a month and an injection of rabies immunoglobulin.

It’s important to note that in some locations (including Indonesia), rabies treatment can be limited and you may need to return to Australia or travel to another country for immediate treatment.

How to protect yourself when travelling

Of course, the best way to protect yourself from rabies is to get vaccinated before you head to any destination where rabies is present.

When you are travelling, you can further reduce your risk by following a few simple measures:

  • Do not get close to animals — this is especially important for children.
  • Do not touch stray dogs or cats.
  • Do not allow children to feed, pat or play with animals.
  • Do not carry food, and do not feed or pat monkeys. Try not to look at monkeys that have babies, as they may feel threatened and bite suddenly.
  • Do not touch bats anywhere in the world, including Australia.
  • Know what to do if you get an animal bite or scratch.

Travel health at IMC

Got a health question or concern about your upcoming or recent travels?

As a member of the Travel Medicine Alliance (TMA), we provide a range of travel health services including:

  • Travel vaccinations, of which we carry the full range of travel vaccines at our practice. This includes vaccines for rabies, measles, hepatitis A & B, yellow fever, malaria, tetanus, cholera and influenza.
  • Comprehensive consultations on your travel plans and health requirements, including recommended vaccinations and boosters for your travel destination.
  • Follow up advice and treatment of rabies and any other illnesses you may have obtained while travelling overseas.
  • Visa application health checks.
  • Travel medical kits.

Find out more on our Travel Health page.

To make an appointment at Illawarra Medical Centre to discuss any travel health plans or concerns, contact us on (08) 9208 6400 or book online.

For more information on this topic, visit:

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]]> Measles on the rise in WA https://illawarramedical.com.au/measles-on-the-rise-in-wa/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=measles-on-the-rise-in-wa Mon, 28 Apr 2025 03:43:12 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=8632 While measles has effectively been eradicated in Australia since 2014, thanks to the introduction of the vaccine to the childhood immunisation schedule in the mid-70s, there’s been a resurgence of the disease in recent years. Already this year, there have been 13 cases of measles reported in WA, and 57 cases Australia-wide. Vaccination remains the […]

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While measles has effectively been eradicated in Australia since 2014, thanks to the introduction of the vaccine to the childhood immunisation schedule in the mid-70s, there’s been a resurgence of the disease in recent years.

Already this year, there have been 13 cases of measles reported in WA, and 57 cases Australia-wide.

Vaccination remains the best prevention against the disease, particularly for overseas travellers and others recommended to receive the vaccine, including children 12 months old and adults born from 1966 onwards who haven’t yet had two doses.

In this month’s blog, we look at what’s causing this increase in cases and how vaccines work to prevent the disease.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can easily spread through air-borne droplets. In fact, you can catch it simply from being in the same room as an infected person!

It can also pass on from direct contact with items that have been freshly soiled with the mucous and saliva of someone infected, as the virus can survive on surfaces for up to two hours.

Measles can have serious complications for those infected by the disease, including:

  • middle ear infections;
  • dehydration from diarrhoea and vomiting;
  • respiratory infections – such as bronchitis, croup, laryngitis and even pneumonia;
  • pregnancy problems – including a higher risk of miscarriage or premature labour;
  • encephalitis or brain inflammation – which affects roughly one in 1,000 people affected by the disease and can result in death or permanent brain damage; and
  • Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) – an extremely rare, progressive inflammation of the brain that causes degeneration. SSPE usually begins around seven years after the measles infection and is fatal.

Signs and symptoms

The first signs and symptoms usually occur around 10 days after exposure to the virus and can include:

  • fever
  • tiredness
  • runny nose
  • cough
  • sore red eyes

While these symptoms are characteristic of a range of illnesses, those with measles will also experience a red blotchy rash that appears a few days after the initial symptoms. The rash generally starts on the face and spreads to the body and will last for around four to seven days.

Who is at risk?

Anyone of any age can catch measles if they are not immune. One of the highest risk groups is international travellers, particularly those visiting and returning from countries where the disease is still common, including areas of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Infants under 12 months are also particularly vulnerable, as they are too young to be fully vaccinated.

Another group at risk of experiencing serious illness with complications from measles is those with weakened immunity.

Measles can also be particularly damaging during pregnancy, increasing the risk of miscarriage or pre-term labour. It is highly recommended that anyone planning a pregnancy ensures they are up-to-date with their measles vaccine prior to becoming pregnant, as measles vaccinations should not be given during pregnancy.

What’s causing the recent increase in cases?

According to Australian Government’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, 13 cases have been recorded in WA (up from a total of 6 cases in 2024) and 57 cases (equal to last year’s total) have been reported nationally to date.

The recent rise in measles cases in Australia can be attributed to both the rising number of cases globally combined with reduced vaccination rates here in Australia.

Global case numbers are also rising.

There are a number of countries where measles is still very common and outbreaks are currently being experienced in Vietnam, Thailand, India, Africa, Europe and the UK, the Middle East, and North America – all popular destinations for Australian tourists.

With this global increase in cases, and international travel back to pre-pandemic levels, it’s no wonder we are seeing an increased number of cases locally.

Preventing measles

Vaccination remains the best prevention against measles, particularly if you are planning on travelling overseas.

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends vaccination for specific groups including:

  • children 12 months old;
  • adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 who have not received 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly:
    • healthcare workers;
    • childhood educators and carers;
    • people who work in long-term care facilities;
    • people who work in correctional facilities; and
    • travellers.

About the measles vaccine

The measles combination vaccine (MMR – measles, mumps, rubella) is free under the National Immunisation Program for children aged 12 months and 18 months.

People who did not receive a measles vaccination in childhood, including those aged under 20 years old, refugees, and other humanitarian entrants, may also be eligible for a free catch-up-vaccination.

MMR is a live vaccine that is 99% effective in protecting against the virus. As it contains a small amount of the live virus, some people may be not be able to receive the vaccine for medical reasons. Make sure you check with your doctor before booking in for your vaccine.

To book in for your vaccine at Illawarra Medical Centre, or to get general travel health and vaccination advice, book online or contact us on (08) 9208 6400.

For more information on this topic, visit:

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]]> WA travellers to Bali warned to protect against dengue fever https://illawarramedical.com.au/wa-travellers-to-bali-warned-to-protect-against-dengue-fever/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wa-travellers-to-bali-warned-to-protect-against-dengue-fever Tue, 21 May 2024 02:59:38 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=7870 Dengue fever is on the rise, with Western Australia recording twice the number of cases compared to the same time last year. With the majority of these cases having been acquired in Indonesia, Western Australians are being urged to take precautions against the disease when travelling to Bali. In this month’s blog, we take a […]

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Dengue fever is on the rise, with Western Australia recording twice the number of cases compared to the same time last year. With the majority of these cases having been acquired in Indonesia, Western Australians are being urged to take precautions against the disease when travelling to Bali.

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at dengue fever and how you can best protect yourself when travelling to Indonesia and other locations where it is present.

mosquito_yellow_fever_disease

What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a virus that is transmitted through a bite from two different types of mosquito – the Dengue mosquito and the Asian Tiger mosquito. The disease itself is caused by one of four dengue viruses carried by these mosquitos.

These mosquitos tend to be most active during the day and can be found inside and around buildings close to human habitation. The disease cannot be transmitted person to person.

Generally, a person will develop a lifelong immunity to the type of dengue virus they contract but will remain susceptible to the other types.

As noted by the World Health Organization, dengue fever has grown significantly in recent decades, from 505,430 cases reported in 2000 to a record high of over 6.5 million cases and 7,300 dengue-related deaths across 80 countries in 2023.

This rise in cases is thought to be a result of dengue fever carrying mosquitos spreading to more locations across the globe, combined with increasing global temperatures with higher rainfall and humidity, and increasing population movements.

So far this year, there have been 138 cases of dengue fever recorded in Western Australia; twice that of last year. The majority of these cases were acquired in Indonesia, which itself has recorded more than 60,000 cases so far this year.

Where else is dengue fever present?

Indonesia is not the only country where the disease exists, with dengue fever also highly prevalent in other parts of Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

While Asia accounts for around 70% of cases, the disease is also endemic in more than 100 countries across Africa, North and South America, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Western Pacific.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Symptoms for dengue fever will normally appear 3-14 days after being bitten and can often present like a bad case of the flu.

Symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Chills
  • Swollen glands
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • A faint red rash

The fever usually lasts around six days and most people will recover in about a week. However, the infection can become more serious and is potentially fatal. Severe symptoms can include:

  • Rapid breathing
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Persistent vomiting and vomit with blood in it
  • Bleeding gums and/or unexpected bleeding
  • Restlessness

Babies, young children, and those who have previously had dengue fever are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms from the disease. If you feel particularly unwell and experience severe symptoms, phone 000 and request an ambulance for urgent assistance.

What treatments are available?

Unfortunately, there are no specific treatments available for dengue fever, other than to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and take paracetamol to reduce fever. Do not use aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can increase your risk of bleeding.

If you experience severe symptoms, you may be required to go to hospital for intravenous fluids to replace lost electrolytes.

The good news is that most people will fully recover within a week or two.

How can I best protect myself?

There is no vaccine available for dengue fever in Australia. The best way to avoid the disease is to protect yourself against mosquito bites as best you can by:

  • Wearing long, loose fitting clothing that covers your skin, including socks and closed in shoes.
  • Applying insect repellent first thing in the morning and one that contains DEET, picaridin, or Oil of Eucalyptus Lemon.
  • Reapplying insect repellent regularly to exposed skin.
  • Using an insecticide, such as permethrin, on your clothes and bedding.
  • Covering your bed with a mosquito net.
  • Keeping your windows closed and staying in air-conditioned accommodation with flyscreens on the windows.
  • Requesting your room be sprayed for mosquitos if you notice them.
  • Avoiding areas with lots of mosquitos and booking your travels for the dry season.
  • Researching your holiday destination and its potential health risks.

If you become sick when you return, book in with your doctor and advise them of your recent travels. A blood test will determine whether you have dengue fever or not and early diagnosis of the disease will help to reduce the risk of complications.

To make an appointment at Illawarra Medical Centre, contact us on (08) 9208 6400 or book online. As a member of the Travel Medicine Alliance (TMA), we provide a range of travel health services including:

  • Follow up advice and treatment of dengue fever and any other illnesses you may have obtained while travelling overseas.
  • Comprehensive consultations on your travel plans and health requirements, including recommended vaccinations and boosters for your travel destination.
  • Travel vaccinations, of which we carry the full range of travel vaccines at our practice. This includes vaccines for measles, hepatitis A & B, yellow fever, malaria, tetanus, cholera and influenza.
  • Visa application health checks.
  • Travel medical kits.

Find out more on our Travel Health page.

For more information on this topic, visit:

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]]> What do we know so far about the coronavirus? https://illawarramedical.com.au/what-do-we-know-so-far-about-the-coronavirus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-do-we-know-so-far-about-the-coronavirus Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:04:17 +0000 http://43.250.249.65/~illawar7/?p=2937 There has been a lot of media coverage on the COVID-19 coronavirus since it was first reported late last year. But what is it exactly and do we need be alarmed? In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at what is known about the COVID-19 coronavirus to date and help to answer some […]

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There has been a lot of media coverage on the COVID-19 coronavirus since it was first reported late last year. But what is it exactly and do we need be alarmed?

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at what is known about the COVID-19 coronavirus to date and help to answer some of the main questions you may have.

What is a coronavirus?
The name coronavirus comes from the Latin word for crown. It refers to the appearance of the virus particles on the surface that look similar to crown like spikes.

According to the World Health Organization, a coronavirus is part of a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

The recently identified COVID-19 virus is a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. This means it is a new strain that has not previously been identified in humans.

The COVID-19 novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Provence in China in late December 2019.

For a useful summary of the COVID-19 coronavirus to date, you can watch this video from the World Health Organisation>>

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. However, the most common signs of infection include:

  • Fever
  • Sore Throat
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties

In more severe cases, the virus can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Some people will recover easily from the virus, while others may get very sick very quickly.

At this stage, there is no treatment or vaccine available for COVID-19. However, health professionals globally are actively working towards developing a treatment and vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

How does it spread?
Experts believe that the virus originated in an animal species and then spread to humans, with person to person spread now occurring.

While there is still much to learn about COVID-19, including how it is spread and its severity, it is thought that the virus is most likely spread through:

  • close contact with an infectious person;
  • contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze; and
  • touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face.

Where has the virus spread so far?
As of 17th February 2020, most cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Wuhan City in Hubei Province in China, where the virus originated. The virus has been identified in 25 countries outside of China, including Australia.

There have been 15 known cases of COVID-19 in Australia, with no reported cases to date in Western Australia. All reported cases in Australia have either recovered or are in a stable condition and have come from Wuhan, except one in New South Wales who had contact in China with a confirmed case in Wuhan.

In Australia, those most at risk of getting the virus are those who have recently been in mainland China OR been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case of coronavirus.

How can I protect myself against the virus?
The best way to protect yourself from any form of illness is to practice good hygiene. This includes:

  • washing your hands often with soap and water;
  • using a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze;
  • throwing used tissues into a closed bin straight away;
  • avoiding close contact with others, such as touching;
  • avoid spitting in public; and
  • seeking early medical attention if you begin experiencing any fever, cough or difficulty breathing.

If you are planning to travel to any country where cases of coronavirus have been identified, make sure you check the Australian Government SmartTraveller website for the latest travel advice and recommendations for your chosen destination.

Current advice for Australians
The current advice for Australians is to remain alert but not alarmed.

If you have:

  • travelled overseas to mainland China in the last 14 days (including in transit);
  • had close contact with someone who has travelled overseas to mainland China in the last 14 days; OR
  • had close contact in the last 14 days with someone who has been diagnosed with or suspected of having coronavirus;

AND you feel UNWELL or have ANY of the symptoms outlined above, seek medical attention.

Make sure you call ahead to your doctor before making a booking or visiting your local medical practice, and let them know your symptoms and recent travel history.

If you are a patient at Illawarra Medical Centre and concerned about any illness or symptoms, please contact us on (08) 9208 6400.

For urgent medical attention, please contact 000.

For more information, contact the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 or visit https://www.health.gov.au/

For further information and to remain up-to-date on the status of the COVID-19 coronavirus, visit:

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