Another Travel Warning

[kehoffmann1]

Hey guys, I just got another travel warning from my company.
I don't know if you guys want to know this stuff but I just want everyone to be safe and so you can also tell your friends and girls in the Ukraine.
Evidently in the town of Sukhodolsk in the Lugansky region they are having an outbreak of Hepatitis A. I guess last week they had 240 people hospitalized. The Ukrainian Medical Officials say it is due to contaminated drinking water.
Just thought you might want to know.
Keith

[RickM]

... in response to Another Travel Warning, posted by kehoffmann1 on Jun 29, 2003

our childhood innoculations such as for Hep A and B wear out by the time we are in out mid-thirties or earlier...

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Another Travel Warning, posted by kehoffmann1 on Jun 29, 2003

Hepatits A outbreak spreads to almost 500
Jun 29, 2003 12:13

(AP) Almost 500 people have been hospitalized with symptoms of hepatitis A after drinking contaminated water in a Luhansk Oblast town, officials said June 28.

The Health and Emergency Ministries said the number of new cases doubled last week, with 340 adults and 139 children in the town of Sukhodilsk being treated for the illness. So far, 375 people in the town of 23,000 have been diagnosed with the disease, but the number is expected to increase significantly because the incubation period is 30 days.

The outbreak began June 9 after high levels of stagnant subsoil waters caused the town's water supply and sewage system to overflow. A regional spokeswoman said the outbreak was connected with the closure of coal mines, which began in 1997. The mines have filled up with water but authorities don't have money to pump them out, she said.

To stem the disease's spread, authorities have begun replacing pipes, overhauling sewage systems, pumping water out of dwellings, and distributing fresh drinking water to residents, the Emergency Ministry said.

[Cal]

... in response to Follow up, posted by Cold Warrior on Jun 30, 2003

Hep A and B are standard vaccinations for medical workers  
in the USA and readily available.  Diarrhea is what I
would be worried about, and Dukoral seems to be the best
way to prevent it. Although not available in the USA, I
will be fishing in Canada in about a month and will use
the opportunity to pick up some Dukarol.  Here's a press
release about it:
 
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/2325ce.htm  
 

Cal

[John K]

... in response to Follow up, posted by Cold Warrior on Jun 30, 2003

That's nasty.  If you see your immunologist before you go, you should be ok, though.  Hepatitus A and B are part of the immunization package you get in order to go to Ukraine.  Hep. B is especially important if you intend to do more than just talk to the locals...

While a lot of people don't think about an immunologist before they travel, it really is a smart idea.  My first trip over, I was well vaccinated and given a subscription of Cipreo (antibiotic) in case I picked up a case of Ukrainian revenge.  I did, and the Cipreo combined with some Kaopectate tabs knocked it out within a day.  Cipreo, incidently, is also used to treat anthrax infections.