Proposed Australian Law Could Permit Body Searches

Legislation expected to be passed by Australia's Parliament this year would give customs officials the right to conduct body searches of boat and airline passengers to check for weapons or drugs. Opponents say the proposal is so broad that it appears to allow searches of anyone simply found on a plane or ship, but customs officers believe the new powers are necessary to protect Australia's borders.

Caribbean: Canadian health officials are urging Canadians traveling to the Dominican Republic to take precautions against malaria following three recent cases of the disease in returning travelers. The cases occurred in visitors to resorts in the province of La Altagracia. The best protection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, but Canada's public health agency recommends that all travelers to rural areas of the country and La Altagracia province take chloroquine as a preventive. In Jamaica, officials announced Jan. 25 that the island's first malaria outbreak in 40 years has ended. Nearly 250 cases were confirmed after the disease appeared in October, most in greater Kingston. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends preventive medication only for those who stay overnight in the Kingston area.

Israel: A suicide bombing of a bakery in the Red Sea resort of Eilat killed three on Jan. 29 and brought the violence from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to this popular tourist town. Three Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred in a residential area away from the seaside tourist zone. It was the first such incident in Eilat.

Kenya: An outbreak of Rift Valley fever that began in mid-December has spread to about half the country, appearing in coastal tourist areas for the first time recently. Nairobi has been put on alert as a high-risk area. At least 120 people have died. The disease is spread by mosquitoes and is often deadly for livestock. Avoid close contact with farm animals and protect yourself against mosquito bites. In other news, two Americans and a regional head of the aid agency CARE were killed in two separate carjackings in and around Nairobi. One of the Americans may have been shot because she did not leave the car fast enough. In such incidents, it is prudent to offer no resistance.

Thailand: Bangkok's new international airport is beset with problems, from cracked taxiways to leaky roofs. The national airport authority has found some 61 problems needing repair or redesign that will cost an estimated $45 million and six months to fix. Perhaps worst, Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation did not renew the airport's interim international safety certificate. The airport can operate without one, but it does little to inspire confidence in the facility.

Information: Before visiting potentially dangerous areas, contact the Citizens Emergency Center at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Call 1-888-407-4747, fax 202-647-3000, or go to .

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