Latest news
February 2nd 2012
Germany/exKenya - Trypanosomiasis
A case of trypanosomiasis imported from Masai Mara, Kenya was diagnosed in Frankfurt, Germany.
A 61-year-old male patient had returned from Kenya on 28 Jan 2012. Two hours after arrival, he developed a high fever and admitted himself to a local hospital on 29 Jan 2012. Treatment was started for suspected malaria tropica [_Plasmodium falciparum_], and the patient was transferred to Frankfurt University Hospital the following day. Malaria could not be confirmed, but trypanosomes were seen in thick blood stain, QBC and Giemsa. Treatment was started. Clinically, the patient suffered from high fever, headache and fatigue.
The patient had travelled to Mombasa where he stayed at a beach resort the entire time except for a 2-day excursion to Masai Mara for a safari on 18-19 Jan 2012. The night was spent at a camp. The other member of the travel party does not show any symptoms of trypanosomiasis to date.
The report shows that there is a risk, although small, to tourists in the Kenyan game park.
January 30th 2012
Fiji - DSMC received the IPS-Seal 2012
The Diagnostic & Specialist Medical Centre in Nadi on Viti Levu (Fiji Islands) received the IPS-Seal 2012.
January 16th 2012
Australia (WA) - Pertussis
As of 23 December 2011, a total of 3.597 cases of Pertussis were reported in Western Australia.
This represented a 2.5-fold increase in Western Australia, as compared with 2010.
January 5th 2012
Worldwide
Since 3 years we offer the medicalQM International Patient Safety Seal (IPS-Seal) to hospitals around the globe, taking care of local and international patients with high standard in medical treatment and patient safety. The evaluation also includes disease and disaster awareness and management.
The IPS-Seal 2012 is now available.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to make an appointment.
December 31st 2011
Have a healthy & happy 2012 everyone!
Thank you very much for your
confidence,
cooperation,
encouragement,
and all the fun we had in 2011.
Let's continue this way in 2012!
December 19th 2011
Award Night on Bali
Yesterday night, the handover ceremony of the TravelMedicus Global Hospital Award 2011 was held at Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur on Bali/Indonesia.
More than 300 invited guests enjoyed the cultural performances and listened the speeches of distinguished guests from local and international government, tourism business and industry.
We congratulate the winner of the award 2011, the Kasih Ibu General Hospital on Bali.
Pictures of the event are available on www.TravelMedicus.com
November 29th 2011
Announcement
On December 18th 2011, a handover ceremony of the TravelMedicus Global Hospital Award 2011 will be held on Bali/Indonesia.
November 23rd 2011
Malaysia - Hepatitis A
In three villages in Hulu Terengganu district, river water was believed to be the source of the Hepatitis A outbreak that infected 800 people.
November 12th 2011
Thailand - Leptospirosis
The Thailand Public Health Ministry warned of possible infection with Leptospirosis in flooded areas.
People urged to avoid consuming ice and iced drinks from unknown production sources.
November 11th 2011
Greece - Malaria
Between May 21st and October 26th 2011, 61 cases of Malaria (Plasmodium vivax) have been reported in Greece. Of these, 33 cases (including one death) were in local residents with no history of travel to a malaria endemic countries.
November 10th 2011
Philippines - New Hospital in our Network
We welcome the team of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila in our global network. The tertiary-care hospital is operated by the University of the Philippines Manila. The 14 medical departments offering 1.500 beds in the biggest hospital of the Philippines.
October 14th 2011
Indonesia/Bali - Earthquake 6.1
Yesterday, at 03:16 UTC (11:16 AM local time at epicenter) an earthquake with Mag. 6.1 occurred 100km SW of Bali Island, Indonesia, in a depth of 35km. At least 50 people have been injured (many with cuts, broken bones and head wounds), and some temples, schools and houses got minor damage. Moderate damage was reported to shops as well as falling debris has caused cars and other front shops to be damaged.
The following video shows students in Jimbaran NOT reacting in the right way, but they got trained to react in a safer way! So, if the earthquake had occured closer to the island, the camera had to record a nightmare scenario...
October 1st 2011
Global Hospital Guide
New Hospital in our Network
We welcome Cira Garcia Hospital in Havanna/Cuba in our global QM-Network.
Please visit our Global Hospital Guide.
Cira Garcia hospital is already listetd.
September 15th 2011
Worldwide
Network Hospital
Even small hospitals offer realised medical quality management and patient safety on highest level!
September 5th 2011
Asia - Hospital Trailer online
TRAVELMEDICUS tv
The first hospital trailers are online at our GHG website.
Have a look at GlobalHospitalGuide.
August 24th 2011
Germany - Hanover
EurAsiaMedical Meeting
The next meeting of asian and european network members is on September 6th 2011 in Hanover/Germany.
August 19th 2011
TRAVELMEDICUS tv
People around the globe are interested in TV travel documentary. Last year, our team started an evaluation project in possibilites of combining travel - health - globalization in a new way of travel documentary. Involving network partner and network hospitals, the result was positive!
You can have a look at the first trailer at www.TRAVELMEDICUStv.com
Hospitals and clinics are invited to take part in one of our next shootings in travelMEDutainment.
August 17th 2011
Fiji - Rubella (Update_2)
Since August 2nd 2011, the number of confirmed cases of rubella (German measles) in Fiji has more than doubled from 11 to 28. Two of the original 11 cases were female, whereas all of the newly confirmed 17 cases are male.
August 2nd 2011
Fiji - Rubella (Update_1)
The number of confirmed cases of rubella virus infection in Fiji has increased from the 3 (2 females and a male aged between 19 and 24) reported a week ago to the current total of 11 cases.
Travellers in the area can contact our network partner DSM Centre in Nadi on Viti Levu/Fiji.
July 27th 2011
Europe - Measles
More than 21.000 cases of Measles were reported in Europe in the first half of this year. Out of which, most of the cases were reported from France (12.699), Spain (2.261), Romania (1.619), Italy (over 1.500) and Germany (1.193).
July 26th 2011
Fiji - Rubella
Currently, there is a rubella outbreak with 3 reported cases in the greater Suva area, as confirmed by Fiji Health Ministry spokesman Peni Namotu.
2 females and a male aged between 19 and 24 years developed symptoms of rubella at the Fiji School of Nursing. There are suspected cases for other areas like Samabula.
Rubella virus infection can seriously affect pregnant women, damaging their unborn child, particularly the fetus's sight, hearing, heart and brain development. Infection in the 1st 10 weeks of pregnancy causes 90 percent of infants to be damaged, typically their heart, eyes, ears and brain, often in combination. In the next 6 weeks, 1/3rd of infants are affected, usually, but not always, restricted to hearing loss. Later infection is rarely associated with damage, and is referred to as congenital rubella infection.
Rubella (German measles) is generally a mild disease, and people are infectious before they develop symptoms; hence unvaccinated women may be at risk of contracting infection during pregnancy. Immunization is the only way to protect against rubella virus infection, and women working in health care settings are particularly vulnerable if unvaccinated. Since 2004, rubella vaccination has been universal in Fiji, and cases of the disease have declined dramatically. The above report indicates, however, that there are still sufficient unvaccinated individuals in the community to maintain the virus in circulation. Eradication of rubella (German measles) is encountering the same problem as eradication of measles proper, namely incomplete vaccine coverage. Travelers to Fiji should be warned of the potential hazard.
July 21st 2011
Europe/Germany - Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection (Update)
As of today, 3.167 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 908 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a total of 4.075 cases have been reported in 16 countries in Europe and North America. There were 3.935 cases reported in Germany alone, with 48 deaths. However, the number of new cases in Germany and France is much diminished.
July 10th 2011
Japan - Earthquake & Tsunami (Update)
Last night, at 00:57 UTC (10:57 AM at epicenter) an aftershock hit the region off the east cost of Honshu with magnitude 7.0. The epicenter was located 212 km (131 miles) E of Sendai, Honshu - 239 km (148 miles) ENE of Iwaki, Honshu - 250 km (155 miles) E of Fukushima, Honshu - and 409 km (254 miles) NE of TOKYO. Remembering the 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred on March 11th 2011 in Japan at 05:46 GMT, hitting the northeast coast of Honshu, the latest information regarding human impact of the earthquake and tsunami offered on June 16th, 15,534 people are confirmed dead, 5,364 injured and 7,092 missing. A total of 112,405 persons remain displaced; however, less than 1/3 remain in evacuation centres.
July 1st 2011
Europe/Germany - Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection (Update)
In the EU/EEA, 892 HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome) cases, including 32 deaths, and 3.233 non-HUS cases, including 17 deaths, have so far been reported. Since the last update, Germany reports 4 additional HUS cases, 44 additional non-HUS STEC (Shiga Toxin producing _Escherichia Coli_) cases and a new HUS fatality. The latest known date of onset of diarrhea for cases is 26 Jun 2011 in Germany.
With regards to the outbreak in France (Bordeaux Region), 8 cases of bloody diarrhea and a further 8 HUS cases have been identified as of 30 Jun 2011. Infection with _E. coli_ O104:H4 has been confirmed for 6 patients with HUS. 11 of the patients had attended an event in Begles, where 9 reported having eaten sprouts; it concerns 7 women and 4 men, between 31 and 64 years of age.
Thorough investigations are ongoing. Strains from 3 patients tested by the French authorities were compared to strains from patients linked to the outbreak in Germany. The comparison showed that the 2 strains were indistinguishable. This suggests that these 2 events are related to a common source.
By noting the EU number of cumulative cases of HUS and non-HUS cases and their total as well as deaths, the daily rise of the numbers can be seen on the following list:
| Date (2011) | new HUS | new non-HUS | new total | overall total deaths |
| 06.June | 3 | 67 | 70 | 22 |
| 07.June | 13 | 83 | 96 | 23 |
| 08.June | 48 | 266 | 314 | 25 |
| 09.June | 35 | 121 | 156 | 27 |
| 10.June | 38 | 115 | 153 | 31 |
| 11.June | 14 | 177 | 191 | 35 |
| 12.June | 0 | 40 | 40 | 35 |
| 13.June | 8 | 34 | 42 | 36 |
| 14.June | 1 | 6 | 7 | 36 |
| 15.June | 3 | 17 | 20 | 37 |
| 16.June | 2 | 48 | 50 | 39 |
| 17.June | 14 | 92 | 106 | 39 |
| 20.June | 12 | 74 | 96 | 40 |
| 21.June | 4 | 89 | 93 | 40 |
| 22.June | 8 | 79 | 87 | 43 |
| 27.June | 7 | 78 | 85 | 47 (5 day gap) |
| 28.June | 4 | 97 | 101 | 48 |
| 29.June | 0 | 29 | 29 | 48 |
| 30.June | 3 | 19 | 22 | 48 |
| 01.July | 4 | 44 | 48 | 49 |
| 04.July | 0 | 48 | 48 | 49 |
| 05.July | 6 | 33 | 39 | 50 |
| 06.July | 1 | 24 | 25 | 50 |
|
Update: July 6th |
total cases: | 4.236 | with | 50 deaths |
June 29th 2011
New hospitals in our network
In June, we welcome two "new" hospitals in our network. The Rarotonga Hospital on Cook Islands and Orotta Hospital in Asmara/Eritrea. Both already listed on our Global Hospital Guide.
Hospitals interested in further cooperation with one of these new network hospitals can contact us.
June 24th 2011
Europe/Germany - Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection (Update)
In the EU/EEA, 862 HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) cases, including 30 deaths, and 2.930 non-HUS cases, including 13 deaths, have been reported so far. Two days ago, Germany reports 8 additional HUS cases and 2 new HUS deaths. It also reports 79 additional non-HUS STEC cases and 1 new non-HUS death. Sweden reports 3 additional non-HUS STEC cases who visited Germany mid-May. The latest known date of onset of diarrhea for cases is 16 Jun 2011. Total cases: 3.793 with 44 deaths.
By noting the EU number of cumulative cases of HUS and non-HUS cases and their total as well as deaths, the daily rise of the numbers can be seen on the following list:
| Date (2011) | new HUS | new non-HUS | new total | overall total deaths |
| 06.June | 3 | 67 | 70 | 22 |
| 07.June | 13 | 83 | 96 | 23 |
| 08.June | 48 | 266 | 314 | 25 |
| 09.June | 35 | 121 | 156 | 27 |
| 10.June | 38 | 115 | 153 | 31 |
| 11.June | 14 | 177 | 191 | 35 |
| 12.June | 0 | 40 | 40 | 35 |
| 13.June | 8 | 34 | 42 | 36 |
| 14.June | 1 | 6 | 7 | 36 |
| 15.June | 3 | 17 | 20 | 37 |
| 16.June | 2 | 48 | 50 | 39 |
| 17.June | 14 | 92 | 106 | 39 |
| 20.June | 12 | 74 | 96 | 40 |
| 21.June | 4 | 89 | 93 | 40 |
| 22.June | 8 | 79 | 87 | 43 |
| 23.June | n.n. | n.n. | n.n. | 44 |
June 12th 2011
Germany - Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection (Update)
Yesterday, WHO reported that (as of June 10th 2011), 2.440 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 809 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a total of 3.249 cases have been reported in 14 countries in Europe. There were 3.147 cases reported in Germany alone, with 34 deaths. The majority of these cases had recently visited northern Germany. German authorities stated that mounting epidemiological and food-chain evidence indicated that bean and seed sprouts are the vehicle of the outbreak in Germany. The authorities now recommend that people in Germany should not eat raw bean and seed sprouts of any origin.
WHO recommends normal hygiene measures should be observed, hand washing after toilet use and before touching food. Anyone who has developed bloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and who has had contact recently with northern Germany, should seek medical advice urgently.
June 8th 2011
Japan - Earthquake & Tsunami (Update)
A 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred on March 11th 2011 in Japan at 05:46:23 GMT, hitting the northeast coast of Honshu. The worst affected area is the east coast of Tohoku region. Tsunamis have caused devastation in the coastal areas of Tohoku and southern Hokkaido. Based on official Japanese government figures (June 7th), 15 382 people are confirmed dead, 5 364 injured and 8 191 missing. There are now 93 270 evacuees. Health situation monitoring, needs and risk assessments and response in the earthquake and tsunami affected areas are ongoing.
June 6th 2011
Germany - Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection
Yesterday, the WHO reported that 1.674 cases of Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection and 661 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a total of 2.335 cases have been reported in 13 countries in Europe. There were 2.231 cases reported in Germany alone, with 21 deaths. The majority of these cases had recently visited northern Germany. The cause of the outbreak is still unclear.
mediScon assumed, salad with raw bean and seed sprouts could be one of the main sources of contamination with EHEC bacteria. Therefore we recommend to avoid consuming salad with uncooked bean and seed sprouts.
WHO recommends normal hygiene measures should be observed, hand washing after toilet use and before touching food. Anyone who has developed bloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and who has had contact recently with northern Germany, should seek medical advice urgently.
May 5th 2011
The "TravelMediCopter"
TravelMedicus.tv HeliEvent
Last weekend, TravelMedicus.tv did a shooting at Helipad Hanover in Germany. Different interview partner and network hospitals took part while the TravelMedicus.tv helicopter ("TravelMediCopter") was presented to public.
Click on the following link and have a look at some photos: "HeliEvent".
April 25th 2011
Global Hospital Guide - New Hospital from Thailand listed
We welcome the Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin in our Global Hospital Guide network. The hospital was opened at the beginning of 2011 and since April all departments are opened and established. We wish all the best to the Hospital Director Dr. Somarch Wongkhomthong and his team.
April 8th 2011
Japan - Great Earthquake and Tsunami (Update)
Yesterday, a magnitude 7.1 after shock, about 49 kilometers below ground, occurred off the Miyagi coast, northeastern Japan at 23:32 local time at epicentre. It was the largest aftershock since the 11 March quake. A tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas in Miyagi Prefecture, and tsunami evacuation advisories for Japan's northeastern seaboard from Aomori to Ibaraki prefectures. The warning and advisories were lifted about 80 minutes after the quake. Based on official Japanese government figures (April 5th, 17:00 Tokyo time), 12 344 people are confirmed dead, 2 869 injured with more than 15 237 missing. There are now 163 607 evacuees.
April 5th 2011 Japan Infoleaflet (Update)
 |
110405_japan_faqs.pdf | [56 KB] |
March, 30th 2011
Japan - Great Earthquake and Tsunami (Update)
A 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred 11 March 2011 in Japan at 05:46:23 GMT, hitting the northeast coast of Honshu. The worst affected area is the east coast of Tohoku region. Tsunamis have caused devastation in the coastal areas of Tohoku and southern Hokkaido.
Based on official Japanese government figures (30 March, 14:30 Tokyo time), 11 102 people are confirmed dead, 2 778 injured with more than 16 493 missing. There are now 177 465 evacuees.
Today's question: Are Natural Disasters foreseeable?
The Japanese scientists wrote in 2001 (Journal of Natural Disaster Science, Volume 23, Number 2, 2001, pp 83-88):
"The fore-arc region of northeast Japan is an area of extensive seismic activity and tsunami generation. On July 13, 869 the Jögan tsunami triggered by a large-scale earthquake invaded its coastal zones...
The recurrence interval for a largescale tsunami in Sendai area is 800 to 1100 years. More than 1100 years have passed since the Jögan tsunami and, given the reoccurrence interval, the possibility of a large tsunami striking the Sendai plain is high. Our numerical findings indicate that a tsunami similar to the Jögan one would inundate the present coastal plain for about 2.5 to 3 km inland."
So, how could it happen that no one reacted to this? The research was supported by Japanese Government.
Answer: We believe, many industrial nations having important knowledge of their countries like the Japanese scientists offered regarding the Sendai plate, and ignoring this like it happened currently in Japan.
March 23rd 2011 Japan Infoleaflet (Update)
|
032311_japan_-faqs_update.pdf | [48 KB] |
March 18th 2011 Information for Traveller
|
nd_fukushima_qa.pdf | [35 KB] |
March 11th 2011
Japan
Great Earthquake and Tsunami
We would like like to express our deepest sympathy to all the families and friends of those people killed and injured in Japan.
The latest news about the great earthquake and tsunami in Japan posted here: "Outbreak-News"
Please click here for factsheets regarding Radiation Emergency:
-> Evaluate for Contamination and/or Exposure
-> Contamination: Diagnose/Manage
-> Exposure: Diagnose/Manage Acute Radiation Syndrome
March 2nd 2011
Germany - Hanover
Business-Meeting
On March 14th and 15th 2011 a meeting of Bangkok Hospital Medical Center/Thailand and medicalQM will be held in Hanover/Germany. We are going to talk about the current situation in international medical tourism and possibilities for the future. Interested parties are invited to attend.
Please contact us for further information.
February 25th 2011
Worldwide
„travelMEdutainment“
The International Journal „The TravelMedicus“ launched a new project, called “travelMEdutainment”, a new way in TV travel documentary. “On tour with TravelMedicus” offers inside information in travelling and healthcare, also in medical services offered and handling typical health issues at destination. Have a first look inside at www.TravelMedicus.tv
January 24th 2011
Indonesia
Rabies on Bali (Update)
Last week, the Bali Health Official, Dr. Nyoman Sutedja, declared a rabies alert for Nusa Penida. He expressed concern for the 17 dog bite cases that have occurred in past months that went untreated in the mistaken assumption there were no infected dogs on the island.
It was reported previously on Mon 10 Jan 2011 that 2 residents of the island of Nusa Penida had died in a Bali hospital as a result of suspected rabies virus infection. That diagnosis now appears to have been confirmed and also that infection had occurred as a result of dog bite on the island of Nusa Penida (previously considered to be a rabies-free zone). Currently there are another 17 inhabitants of the island who received dog bites in the past few months and are potential rabies cases since they received no post-exposure prophylaxis in the mistaken belief that the island dogs were free of rabies.
Visitors to any part of Bali should be aware that there are no rabies-free zones on the main island and its off-shore islands, and that the problem of canine rabies in Bali is far from resolved.
January 7th 2011
Dr. Chatree on GHG
Worldwide
Global Hospital Guide
In the near future, network hospitals listed on our Global Hospital Guide can present their facilities with a video, too.
The first videos are already in production and will be shown one by one soon. If your hospital is interested too, please contact us.
December 17th 2010
Dr. S. Duarsa, CEO KIH
Indonesia
1st reaction of AWARD winner
Upon receiving the news that Kasih Ibu General Hospital (KIH) in Bali has won the TravelMedicus Global Hospital Award 2011, the founder and CEO Dr. S. Duarsa MD was deeply touched.
"We all feel honored.
This prestigious award will definitely give all of us working at Kasih Ibu an added motivation to carry on with our "Pursuit of Excellence" Program", said Dr. Suanda Duarsa.
December 14th 2010
Our team visited KIH
Worldwide
2nd TM Global Hospital Award
The TM Global Hospital Award 2011 goes to the Kasih Ibu Hospital (KIH) in Denpasar on the island of Bali in Indonesia.
The team of medicalQM congratulate the whole staff of the Kasih Ibu Hospital!
They are doing an excellent job for local and international patients since many years! Please have a look at the AWARD-website.
December 1st 2010
Hanover City Hall
Hanover Christmas Market
USA - Germany - Worldwide
Networking is more than business! Today, Nick Brooks (CFO Mercury Healthcare) from Denver/USA and Thomas Ly met for meeting for an "Eierpunsch" and a "Gluehwein" at the Hanover Christmas Market. Talking about business was not the main theme!
November 24th 2010
postEruption at Merapi
Indonesia
Eruption at Mt. Merapi
While our team was involved in Disaster Management at Mt. Merapi on Java in Indonesia from Oct. 22nd until Oct. 30th 2010, all of us had some very emotional moments...
This picture was done on Oct. 30th at Kaliadem, a small village we helped to evacuate and rescue people.
October 19th 2010
Our team on tour in Asia
TravelMEdutainment
Asia
Until Nov 23rd 2010 our team is on tour in Asia, visiting QM-hospitals in Indonesia and Thailand.
Please have a look at our Global Hospital Guide and get the latest news when we are back home.
October 5th 2010
Dogs in Seminyak, Bali
Indonesia - Bali
Rabies (Update)
On Oct. 2nd a 43-year old man from Tegallang in Gianyar on Bali died of rabies in Sanglah Hospital. Nearly 100 people have already died from rabies on Bali since the outbreak began almost two years ago. Earlier the authorities on Bali started a pilot vaccination project with immunizations of dogs in two of the nine regencies. On Sept 21st 2010 the Governor of Bali signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bali Animal Welfare Association to launch a island-wide rabies vaccination project, to be funded by WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals).
It is self-evident that extension of the dog vaccination programme to all 9 districts of the island of Bali will reduce or even eliminate human deaths attributable to dog-bite, and the WSPA deserves every support in this effort. However, this alone is unlikely to eliminate entirely the risk of rabies virus infection, since the virus is believed to be present in other animals such as felines and monkeys on Bali. It will be necessary to maintain indefinitely an island-wide dog vaccination programme.
Travellers to Bali should be aware that the dog vaccination programme at present only covers 2 of the 9 administrative regions of Bali. Travellers should avoid contact with animals. Immunisation (both pre-exposure and post-exposure), combined with thorough wound cleaning, is the most reliable methods of preventing rabies. Travellers visiting Bali with prolonged stay or anticipated contact with animals should seek medical consultation for pre-travel health advice and pre-exposure rabies vaccination if indicated.
September 27th 2010
Worldwide
World Rabies Day 2010
The mission of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies, how easy it is to prevent it, and how to eliminate the main global sources. Even though the major impact of rabies occurs in regions of the world where many needs are present, rabies should no longer be neglected. The tools and technology for human rabies prevention and dog rabies elimination are available.
Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. Yet, more than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year - a rate of one person every ten minutes. The most important global source of rabies in humans is from uncontrolled rabies in dogs. Children are often at greatest risk from rabies. They are more likely to be bitten by dogs, and are also more likely to be severely exposed through multiple bites in high-risk sites on the body. Severe exposures make it more difficult to prevent rabies unless access to good medical care is immediately available. This major source of rabies in humans can be eliminated through ensuring adequate animal vaccination and control, educating those at risk, and enhancing access of those bitten to appropriate medical care.
Click here and read more about Rabies!
September 9th 2010
Indonesia - Bali
Rabies (Update)
Health officials in Indonesia reported 93 fatal cases of human Rabies in Bali. On an average day, 165 people are bitten by dogs in Bali. So far this year there have been a total of 37.901 dog-bite incidents in Bali. This figure shows a dramatic increase as only 21.806 dog bites were reported in 2009.
Travellers should avoid contact with animals. Immunisation (both pre-exposure and post-exposure), combined with thorough wound cleaning, is the most reliable methods of preventing rabies. Travellers visiting Bali with prolonged stay or anticipated contact with animals should seek medical consultation for pre-travel health advice and pre-exposure rabies vaccination if indicated.
Our suggestion for conservation of rabies vaccine:
It is painful to know that so many persons especially children are dying for want of anti rabies vaccine on Bali in Indonesia. We wish to request that Indonesian health authorities switch to the intradermal (ID) method of administration of anti rabies vaccine in place of intramuscular (IM) method as this would save vaccine to the tune of 5 times and would end vaccine shortages. As we all know the ID dose is 5 times less than the IM dose if the vaccine is 1 ml, and 2.5 times if the vaccine vial contains 0.5 ml, so 2.5 to 5 times more persons can be vaccinated by the ID method than the IM method from a single vial. The same vaccine can be used by both the ID or IM method, the only difference being the lesser dose by the ID method. We hope the Indonesian authorities will immediately shift to the WHO approved ID method so that more people are able to get the vaccine with the given limited stock.
Background:
The WHO guide on preventive immunizations against rabies is aimed to ensure that effective and potent treatment is provided, even where vaccines are in very short supply - as is the case in many developing countries. Alternatively, more economical vaccination approaches have been successful in developing countries where funding for vaccines and vaccine supplies are limited.
Health staff must be well trained in techniques and vaccines must be stored appropriately for effectiveness.
The WHO Guide for Rabies Pre- and Post-exposure Prophylaxis in Humans is available at
http://www.who.int/rabies/PEP_prophylaxis_guidelines_June10.pdf
August 23rd 2010
Germany - Mainz
QM vs. rQM
Two infants died at Mainz University Hospital in Germany, after being infected with bacteria. An investigation has been launched into the deaths thought to have been fed with infected intravenous drips. Hospital officials in Mainz said 11 children had been given nutritional infusions which may have been contaminated with unspecified bacteria. Currently five of them are in a critical condition. The babies who died were already seriously ill and in an intensive-care ward. According to the hospital the infusions had been individually prepared for each patient in the hospital pharmacy department using components from a commercial supplier.
In the last months the German Health Care System had already many different problems. Today, the latest news from Mainz University Hospital presenting us the tip of the iceberg on Health Care System problems in Germany.
Different Quality Management Systems established in each hospital in Germany, but there is a loss in two parts:
1. hospital personnel needs a reduce in working hours (there is a big difference in reality between planned and actual working hours) and
2. hospitals needs help in establishing a realised Quality Management (there is a big difference to establish a QM-System and establishing a realised QM-System at hospital).
July 9th 2010
Germany - Munich
Munich hospitals have to close OT
Hygiene in Munich two clinics is inadequate. Last Thursday, the hospitals Neuperlach and Bogenhausen in Munich closed their OT's due to errors in the Sterile and for surgery patients must move to other hospitals.
This shows the difference between "standard quality management", "certification" and our rQM, the realised Quality Management in medical treatment and patient safety, already offered in many hospitals around the globe > www.GlobalHospitalGuide.com
Our Global Hospital Guide is quite different to all other "hospital guides", because we do not collect data, we evaluate hospital data!
June 24th 2010
Worldwide
New Rabies Control Document
Hi all,
this is FYI, latest in numerous efforts/research on rabies control. This 'online only' blueprint is the result of expert collaboration with the intent of providing public health, government, and other concerned health providers with a standardized platform/guide for rabies control and prevention collating other international resources. This should be particularly useful in rabies-endemic countries with limited resources. The English version is online, the French being finalized, and other languages to follow in due course. I hope our members who are involved in this area find the document useful.
Please visit: www.rabiesblueprint.com
May 17th 2010
New Zealand - Auckland City Hospital
We welcome a new network partner, the Auckland City Hospital!
It is a acute adult hospital on the Auckland District Health Board's Grafton road site opened in October 2003. It brings together the services of Auckland, Green Lane and National Women's Hospitals into one building, and links with Starship Children's Health. This represents a fundamental reorganisation of the Auckland District Health Board's staff and services.
The Auckland City Hospital is nine levels high, which is five levels lower than the existing Auckland Hospital building. At around 80,000m2, will be one of New Zealand's largest public buildings.
April 4th 2010
Congratulations to the BHMC by CGIH
Under the leadership and administration of Dr. Chatree Duangnet, CEO, Bangkok Hospital Medical Center has been bestowed the honor of the TravelMedicus Global Hospital Reader's Choice Award for 2010. Bangkok International's Contracting Director, Judy Mitchell is a member of our Social Network at Globally Integrated Healthcare and Medical Tourism.
Kudos to the entire staff and management of Bangkok International Hospital Medical Center and keep up the great work.
Your dedication to quality patient care, cultural sensitivity, and customer service is exemplary.
(I know their quality firsthand both as a patient and a trained observer.)
You deserve to feel proud!
Kind regards,
Maria K. Todd, MHA PhD
President
The Council on the Global Integration of Healthcare (CGIH)
March 31st 2010
Madagascar
Involved in a bilateral disaster awareness and preparedness project, mediScon/medicalQM is preparing a TOT seminar.
The seminar will be held in the near future in the southeastern part of Madagascar.
Registered members will find further information on our Disaster Awareness website:
www.Disaster-Awareness.com
The project is funded by German Government.
March 13th 2010
Thailand, Germany and worldwide
ITB Berlin 2010
Today, an official handover ceremony for the Global Hospital Award 2010 was held in hall 26 at the world's leading travel trade show ITB Berlin. Attended by german TV ARD, Mr. R. Krewer (Marketing Manager of the Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, Bangkok/Thailand) was very proud and happy receiving the Global Hospital Award 2010 for the Bangkok Hospital.
Congratulations to Dr. Chatree Duangnet (CEO of the BHMC) and the whole team at the Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok/Thailand and thanks to all the people voted last year for their favoured hospital.
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| T. Schmidt (l.) & R. Krewer (r.) | Interview with german TV ARD |
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March 7th 2010
Germany
CeBIT in Hanover
We would like say thank you to all the people visited us at CeBIT fair in Hanover between March 2nd and 6th 2010. Thanks for your questions, your interests in our "DocQuery-Project", your kind attention and listening to "medicalQM - ethics and transparency in medical care worldwide" and the great talks we had.
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| K. Bach from IIS_Lab at University of Hildesheim about "DocQuery" | T.Schmidt about medical QM and globalization in medical care |
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February 25th 2010
Germany
CeBIT in Hanover
March 2. - 6. 2010: Please come and meet up at the CeBIT 2010 in Hanover/Germany. Get the latest update on "DocQuery - a travel medicine information system" on Tuesday, March 2nd at 01:00 pm and learn more about "QM, ethics & transparency in globalisation in medical care" on Saturday, March 6th at 11:00 am. Please contact us for further information.
February 18th 2010
Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Disaster Awareness and Preparedness
More than 15 participants from different districts in As-Sulaimaniyah Governorate/ Iraqi Kurdistan Region, successfully completed a Disaster Awareness Management Training (DAMT). The DAMT was funded by German Government.
The training was assisted by Nature Iraq Org and the Dept. of Geology at the University of Sulaimani/Iraq.
January 23rd 2010
Global Hospital Award 2010
Hannover/Germany - Bangkok/Thailand
Last week, the decision was reached regarding the winner of the first
TravelMedicus Global Hospital Award!
Reader of the Journal The TravelMedicus, user of the Global Hospital Guide and clients of mediScon worldwide helped and voted, finding the Global Hospital Award Winner 2010.
Last Friday, Dr. Chatree Duangnet, CEO Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Bangkok, received the information about winning the award with his Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Bangkok, Thailand. His first reply:
“I am very happy to hear the result of the TravelMedicus Global Hospital Award 2010. It is a real honor for our hospital during our endless quality and patient safety journey.”
Congratulations to Dr. Chatree Duangnet and his team at the Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Bangkok, Thailand, and thank you very much to all the people, business and leisure traveler, reader of the Journal The TravelMedicus and user of the Global Hospital Guide, helped and voted to find the Global Hospital Award winner 2010.
January 6th 2010
Iraq
Invited by local Government, and in cooperation with the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, we will be in Arbil and Sulaimaniyya between Feb 14th and Feb 27th 2010. Interested hospitals, health care providers and health care organizations in the area, not invited until today, can contact us for further information.
December 28th 2009
Timetable 1st & 2nd quarter 2010
January - Germany
February - Kurdistan
March - Afghanistan
April - Madagascar (scheduled)
May - Indonesia
June - India
Hospitals in these areas can contact us if interested in our services.
December 5th 2009 - Medical Team Christmas Dinner
| Paediatric & Urologist | General Practitioner | Educationist & Anaestetist |
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| M.D. | GP & Opthalmologist | Neurosurgeon&CEO/CMO |
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November 16th 2009
Thailand/Europe
Project meeting
Today, Dr. Chatree Daungnet, CEO of the Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Thailand, and Thomas Schmidt, CEO medicalQM met in Cologne, Germany. They talked about the coming Brain Center, a new part of the Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Thailand and started further steps in cooperation.
November 10th 2009
Saudi Arabia - Hajj and H1N1/Swine flu
The United Arab Emirates has said everyone going on the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia must be vaccinated against swine flu before leaving the country. This year's hajj, in the last week of November, will see some three million pilgrims descend on the Muslim holy city of Mecca, including around a million from within Saudi Arabia itself. Yesterday, the UAE launched a campaign to increase awareness about influenza A (H1N1) and the importance of vaccination. Members of the UAE's official hajj delegation were vaccinated at Abu Dhabi airport on Monday before leaving for Saudi Arabia. Pilgrims can be inoculated free of charge at four centres in Dubai and 30 elsewhere in the UAE. They can also have pre-pilgrimage medical checkups at the centres, where any necessary medication will also be provided free during the hajj season.
Pilgrims must be able to present a yellow International Certificate of Vaccination in order to make the pilgrimage. Although anti-swine flu vaccine takes 15 days to become effective.
October 19th 2009
Announcement:
Central and Eastern Europe Medical Tourism and Healthcare Summit
17th – 18th May 2010
Zagreb, Croatia
Main theme – Focussing on key issues and concerns in health travel and dental medical tourism
Medical Tourism in Central and Eastern Europe has been increasing rapidly.
The region as a whole offers a variety of affordable treatments and procedures within easy reach of most travellers.
The summit will showcase facilitators and providers from across the region including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and surrounding countries.
The Central and Eastern Europe Medical Tourism and Healthcare Summit will include an exhibition area, workshops and a two day conference agenda focusing on current issues effecting medical tourism and healthcare in the region and the world in general.
There will be adequate time provided for networking and forming collaborations with potential partners over business lunches, drinks reception and a gala dinner.
Further information, conference agenda and contact details available on:
http://www.globalengage.co.uk/events.html
October 9th 2009
Germany/Worldwide
In May 2009, mediScon/medicalQM and the German based Institute for Maritime Tourism started a project in Tourism Medicine. Until October 2009, a new curriculum "Travel Medicine & Tourism Medicine" focusing on quality and safety for traveler and staff in maritime tourism, i.e. tourism on, in, and by the sea was created.
September 25th 2009
Thailand
Further steps required to ensure best medical treatment and patient safety
Together with mediScon/medicalQM, a Thai Hospital Group started an internal discussion designed to improve best medical treatment and patient safety especially for international medical tourism. A first meeting was held yesterday and today in Hannover/Germany.
September 22nd 2009
India
Improvement in Hospital QM-Level
Hospitals in Mumbai started a campaign to improve their Quality Management in Economy, Medical Treatment and Patient Safety. First exploratory discussions were held in Germany last weekend. Today, mediScon/medicalQM was invited to advise in medical quality management and patient safety.
September 17th 2009
Hannover/Germany
Quality Management and Patient Safety in German Hospitals
Today, an information and discussion forum in "Patient Safety" was held in Hannover/Germany.
Organised by the German Medical Association, together with the Centre for Quality and Management in Health Care / Lower saxony.
mediScon/medicalQM was invited and took part.
September 9th 2009
The Health Care Globalization Summit
Time: Nov 10, 2009 to Nov 13, 2009
Location: Doubletree Miami Mart
Street: 711 N.W. 72nd Avenue
City: Miami/FL USA
Consumer Health World Conferences announce the Health Care Globalization Summit, November 10 – 13, 2009 Summit at the Doubletree Miami Mart, to assess the impact and opportunities of healthcare and medical travel as primary economic drivers for Florida and for countries abroad that are investing in their healthcare delivery systems as centers of excellence.
This summit will host healthcare provider executives along with Minister’s of Trade, Healthcare and Tourism from around the globe who are convening to learn how to maximize their opportunities in the global healthcare marketplace. Globalization is changing the economics and the view that all healthcare is local. As healthcare becomes the number one industry in a global economy, international and domestic healthcare delivery systems are positioning themselves to compete as destinations for patients seeking affordable high quality health care.
August 11th 2009
Global Health Tourism
German public radio station "DeutschlandRadio", also known as www.dradio.de, invited T. Schmidt (CEO mediScon and editor Journal The TravelMedicus) for an interview regarding health tourism in Southeast Asia and Africa.
August 7th 2009
Announcement:
This September, CGIH president Maria Todd and two other CGIH members are planning a trip to Seoul Korea, at the courtesy of the Korean Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) in Seoul. Maria will present two educational programs and the three will visit a number of hospitals and clinics.
July 23rd 2009
International Medical Tourism
Public TV broadcaster ZDF/arte invited T. Schmidt (CEO mediScon and editor Journal The TravelMedicus) as an expert in international medical quality management and patient safety in medical tourism.
Further information available in our next newsletter.
July 20th 2009
Thailand
Increase in flu patients forces delays in surgery
Via The Nation - Excerpt:
Medical services for patients with diseases who need to undergo surgery at the country's top hospitals are being interrupted by the increasing number of patients with flulike illness seeking medical treatment.
Dean of Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, clinical professor Dr Teerawat Kulthanan said hospitals were postponing for up to two weeks general operations for patients who could delay treatment.
According to the Public Health Ministry, the new strain of typeA(H1N1) flu has already claimed 24 lives in Thailand and infected more than 4,469 cases.
Teerawat said because of the outbreak, the hospital had to reserve some intensive care units for patients with the influenza - which could delay some patients with other illnesses. However, he said, this should not affect general operations as doctors would diagnose and continue to provide close care for patients.
Siriraj Hospital's deputy director, Dr Sanan Wisuthisakchai said 3,000 patients with flulike symptoms had been admitted during the five day holiday period early this month.
But now the number of patients with the symptoms had decreased drastically to 300 cases per day. Only 60 of these cases tested positive to the TypeA (H1N1) of influenza,while the rest had seasonal flu.
The number of patients with flu symptoms admitted to Chulalongkorn Hospital, one of the country's top medical schools, also increased drastically, prompting the hospital to rearrange its medical services for patients.
Chulalongkorn Hospital's director, Dr Adisorn Phattaradul said at least 100 patients with flu symptoms had applied each day for admission as inpatients and outpatients.
In the first three months of the flu outbreak, only two cases per day attended the hospital; but now at least 20 patients were seeking medication each day. Of this number, two or three were found suffering from severe flu symptoms.
July 16th 2009
South Africa Health Tourism Congress
Time: July 27, 2009 to July 29, 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
CGIH president, Maria Todd and Chief Medical Officer Mike Silvers will present several topics on medical tourism, patient safety, accreditation and other topics.
More information available on: http://www.sahealthtourismcongress.co.za
July 12th 2009
Saudi Arabia
Worrying about the Hajj
With several million Muslims from all over the world expected in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in late November, Saudi authorities are concerned that the event will facilitate the spread of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 among pilgrims.
Aside from the week-long Hajj, more than two million people go on pilgrimage to Mecca throughout the year (called "Umrah"), with extra numbers visiting in the holy month of Ramadan (from about 21 August to 19 September).
Saudi Arabia held a workshop at the end of June to discuss minimising the spread of the disease during Hajj season and urged all nations to postpone the pilgrimage this year for elderly people with chronic illnesses, children and pregnant women.
The workshop outlined general hygiene habits to reduce the risk of (H1N1) 2009 infection, such as washing hands with water and soap, covering the nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing, and wearing masks when visiting crowded places.
According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 6 July update on pandemic (H1N1) 2009, the Middle East region has had 1,111 cases of the virus and no deaths.
Regional precautionary measures
Many countries in the region have started taking precautionary measures to control the spread of (H1N1) 2009 during and after the Hajj.
Ali Al Baqqara, head of the Hajj medical committee at Bahrain’s Ministry of Health, called on people to postpone going to Hajj this year, particularly pregnant women, children, people above 60 and people suffering from blood disorders and genetic or chronic diseases.
In Egypt, Health Minister Hatem Al-Gabali warned last month that Egyptian pilgrims could be quarantined upon their return from Hajj.
Khalid Al-Sahlawi, secretary-general for Al-Hajj Mission in Kuwait, said that provided the (H1N1) 2009 vaccination is available in the country in early October, the priority for vaccination will be given to pilgrims.
On 6 July, Oman banned sick elderly people and children from travelling to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage for fear of contracting (H1N1) 2009, according to a health ministry statement. The ministry did not clarify whether the ban would be extended to cover the Hajj season as well.
Jassim al-Kubeisi, deputy chairman of Qatar’s Hajj Committee, told Gulf Times on 11 July that the committee members would meet soon to discuss and take a decision on how to deal with Hajj and Umrah this year.
Ziyad Maymash, assistant undersecretary for preventive medicine at the Saudi Ministry of Health, said a quarantine facility had been set up at airport arrival lounges to isolate Hajj and Umrah pilgrims with symptoms of (H1N1) 2009 infections.
Ali Bin Shukr, Director General of the UAE Ministry of Health, said on 8 July that the government would launch an (H1N1) 2009 awareness campaign for people planning to perform Hajj or Umrah. Shukr said the ministry will coordinate with the General Authority for Islamic Affairs to engage imams in educating pilgrims during Friday prayers about ways to avoid contracting the virus.
(Source: www.irinnews.org & WHO)
June 8th 2009
Malaysia launched "Malaysia Healthcare"
The Health Ministry in Malaysia launched a "Malaysia Healthcare" logo and website as part of a concerted effort to promote medical tourism in Malaysia. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai who launched the branding exercise said the logo with its tagline "Quality care for peace of mind" was a part of collaborative efforts between the government and private sector.
"The website (www.myhealthcare.gov.my) will serve as a gateway for potential patients and visitors to explore what the Malaysian healthcare services sector has to offer in terms of medical treatment options, state-of-the-art health and medical facilities and general information on Malaysia," he said.
Thirty-five private hospitals in the country had been identified to promote the healthcare travel programme, Liow said, adding that the government hoped more hospitals and dental clinics would participate.
He said the ministry would propose to the cabinet the establishment of a healthcare travel council which would work with the Economic Planning Unit, relevant government agencies and the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia to champion the industry by consolidating the strengths of the government and private hospitals.
"We hope that such a platform will improve the quality of our medical practitioners and increase the space to unearth their potential.
"When the industry is gradually developed, we will be able to attract top medical practitioners from overseas to come to Malaysia, and this will be good for the healthcare industry."
Earlier, Liow said the number of foreign patients had increased almost ten-fold from 39,114 patients in 1998 to 374,063 last year, while the revenue generated from their hospital bills had grown from RM14.1 million to RM299 million during the same period, which was a compound growth rate of 35.7%.
He said statistics indicate that the healthcare services industry has the potential to be a new source of income that can be tapped and expanded.
"The multiplier effect of health tourism would be boost for other tourism-related industries such as hotel and transportation because foreign patients with accompanying family and friends would also use these services."
May 14th 2009
The Global Hospital Guide is online.
After a complete revision, yesterday we launched the new Global-Hospital-Guide website. Please bookmark:
www.global-hospital-guide.com and check your listing!
If there is a mistake or if you're not listed yet, please contact us. Listed hospitals can send us pictures and a short self-description if interested. Further information is available on:
http://www.global-hospital-guide.com/legalnotice.html
May 2nd 2009
Mt.Rinjani June 9th 1994
Indonesia/Lombok - Volcanic Activity at Rinjani
An increase in seismic activity has been reported at Rinjani volcano on the island of Lombok. On 2nd May there were three explosion earthquakes recorded. A white plume was emitted 1000 m above the eruption point. The alert level at the volcano has been raised from Normal (Level I) to Waspada (Level II). The summit has been closed to climbers. Residents need to beware of lahars.
For the public, medicalQM/mediScon worldwide offering special information leaflet in bahasa Indonesia:
what to do during/after a volcanic eruption
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060528ehbipublicafteravolcaniceruption.pdf | [101 KB] |
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060528ehbipublicduringavolcaniceruption.pdf | [102 KB] |
April 26th 2009
Mexico/Worldwide - Swine Flu H1N1
Breaking News / Current Situation
> 1000 people have been infected in as many as 14 of Mexico's 32 states, 68 have died - case-fatality rate = ~7% (25.04.2009).
> Since March 2009, 8 human cases of new strain of influenza A (H1N1) virus, the swine flu, have been confirmed in California and Texas. All cases have recovered (25.04.2009).
> Disease is highly contagious.
> No vaccine is available.
> Anti-virals, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) are recommended for treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses.
> please read more on www.mediScon.com
> please read the different guidelines
April 22nd 2009
Bookmark you calendar
The Malta Medical Tourism Summit
Hilton Hotel Malta
13th -14th July 2009
Main theme – Focussing on key issues and concerns within the medical tourism industry
Follow the link for further information, conference agenda and contact details:
http://www.ebaoxford.co.uk/Malta_Medical_07_09.html
April 2nd 2009
Indonesia - Is H5N1 adapting to pigs?
Scientists report that H5N1 avian influenza viruses may be adapting to pigs, as evidenced by the finding that H5N1 viruses isolated from pigs in Indonesia were less harmful to mice than were H5N1 viruses from chickens.
The finding suggests that in growing in pigs, the virus may have become less harmful to mammals in general, the authors report. That sounds reassuring, but the authors say it may mean the virus is one step closer to turning into a human pandemic strain.
In the study, scientists from Japan and Indonesia collected viruses from chickens and pigs in Indonesia, grew them in laboratory cell cultures, and used them to infect mice. They found that the viruses from pigs were less lethal to mice than the viruses from chickens, according to their recent report in the Archives of Virology.
"We found that swine isolates were less virulent to mice than avian isolates, suggesting that the viruses became attenuated during their replication in pigs," the report states. Read more on our journal's website: www.TravelMedicus.com/news/042009h5n1/index.html
March 30th 2009
Nigeria - Rabies via Dog/Cat butchering
Human butchering and consumption of animals potentially infected with rabies and other zoonotic viruses is not limited to Asia. In Nigeria, dog eating is very common in states such as Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kaduna, Kebbi and Ondo. In fact, dog suya (barbequed dog meat) is sold publicly in the dog eating areas. In some areas such as Jos, only local and seasoned connoisseurs may easily distinguish restaurants where dog and other conventional meats are sold. Cat eating, though not as common as dog eating, can also be encountered, even in cosmopolitan places such as Lagos. While human consumption of bats is also common, there seems to have been little or no local effort (as per the limited information available) to evaluate the risk of rabies transmission.
Rabies is no doubt underreported and probably misdiagnosed in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.
Cultural and religious beliefs will also contribute to the underreporting of human rabies that may arise from the consumption of infected apparently healthy dogs and cats. The [rabies-related lyssaviruses] Lagos bat and Mokola viruses still remain under-diagnosed in the human populace.
The paper by Ajayi, Rabo and Baba (2006) also indicates a disturbing possibility of transmission of rabies by apparently healthy (free of overt rabies signs) stray dogs. If their observations are confirmed, this, in their words, "signifies a new dimension in the epidemiology of the disease in this environment where the high-risk practices are prevalent." What's more intriguing epidemiologically and culturally is that their research was carried out in Maiduguri; the overwhelming Muslim population in the city provide zero economic incentives for dog meat restaurants. However, the dogs were slaughtered in restaurants associated with 2 military barracks in the city.
In summary, the situation reported in Viet Nam, Nigeria, etc. only reaffirms that rabies is more of a neglected tropical disease than thought and which deserves attention.
March 2nd 2009
Indonesia - New hospital on Bali planned
Rp. 75 billion (US$ 6.4 million) has been allocated by the Indonesian government for the construction of an "international standard training hospital" at an eventual total cost of Rp. 600 billion (US$ 50.9 million). As part of the provincial government's participation in the project, Bali is being asked to provide a 4-5 hectare site. A formal request has been set to Bali's governor Made Mangku Pastika suggesting an area, located across from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquaters in Tohpati, be used for the proposed hospital. If that parcel of land is not available, the new hospital will likely be built near the Udayana University in Jimbaran.
February 27th 2009
Announcement
The National Seminar of
the Indonesian Hospital Association PERSI
will be held in Surabaya/Indonesia
May 5th - 7th 2009
Maintheme: Health and Medical Tourism
More information is available on: www.pdpersi.co.id
February 25th 2009
India/Gurajat State - Hepatitis B (Update)
The toll in the hepatitis-hit Sabarkantha district climbed to 43 deaths. Meanwhile, state health department launched a mass vaccination drive in Modasa town on Monday (23 Feb 2009). According to district health officials, 6 new cases of hepatitis have been registered on Monday from Modasa town and nearby villages. The officials said that people of all ages had queued up since morning to get themselves vaccinated. "In the 1st phase we will be administering the hepatitis B vaccine to around 60 000 people in Modasa, where we have set up 60 booths," Sabarkantha District Collector M. Thennarasan said. "We have block level medical officers supervising the team at each booth with over 400 health workers including female health workers (FHWs) monitoring the vaccination drive," Thennarasan said. He said that they have also deployed number of mobile teams who will provide support wherever there is shortfall. The team of experts have already vaccinated the medical and PHC staff and other officials who are working in hospital with the hepatitis-infected patients, he said.
February 23rd 2009
India/Gurajat State - Hepatitis B
The police in India has arrested two doctors on homicide charges for spreading hepatitis B by injecting patients with used needles. At least 34 people have died in an outbreak of the disease in the town of Modasa (Sabarkantha district) in western Gujarat state. Hepatitis B is an infectious virus that is spread through blood and bodily fluids. Six other doctors were earlier arrested on charges of criminal negligence. Gujarat state health minister Jaynarayan Vyas said he had ordered emergency steps to tackle the outbreak, including 600,000 anti-hepatitis B vaccines. Travellers should check medical services next to their destination prior their trip by using reliable and independent sources.
February 5th 2009
Southeast Asia / Singapore
Medical QM /mediScon worldwide started it's first co-operation with a Singaporean Health Care provider.
More information will be available in our next newsletter.
February 3rd 2009
Worldwide
The 1st Annual Hospital Award Competition of the journal "The TravelMedicus" is open to all hospitals taking care for patients regardless of gender, race, nationality, ethnical or national origin, martial status, age, disablement, social background or sexuality.
The goal is to honour and promote hospitals offering "more than others" in a safe and competent way with the focus on globalization and global healthcare.
If you know a hospital deserving closer attention or if you are a managing member of a hospital and you want to apply for, please contact the team of the journal
"The TravelMedicus".
January 5th 2009
USA/Europe/Asia/Africa/Oceania
Mrs. M. Todd (President of CGIH) and Th. Schmidt (CEO mediScon worldwide) started some very interesting conversation and co-operation.
Please read more about this in our next newsletter.
December 5th 2008
Bali/Indonesia:
The island's largest hospital, RSUP Sanglah in Denpasar, now has a dedicated and fully equipped ward for treating patients with bird flu, opened yesterday, Dec 4th 2008 with a ceremony. The ceremony, which Balinese Hindus believe is necessary for any new building before it can be used, was organized by the hospital and the Bali Health Agency. The ward lies in the hospital's Nusa Indah wing, which is dedicated to the treatment of tropical diseases. The fully air-conditioned ward has 27 beds. The first floor hosts four intensive care chambers and a large room with six beds to treat patients suspected of having contracted avian influenza. The ward is equipped with a sophisticated air regulation and filtering system. The physicians and paramedics assigned to the ward are obliged to wear additional personal safety equipment. Bird flu outbreaks hit Bali in 2004 and 2007, claiming two lives.
November 28th 2008
Worldwide
People using PDA, please bookmark the following link:
http://www.medicare-rqm.com/mobile/pda/index.html