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Clinical presentation of leptospirosis ranges from asymptomatic infection to fulminant, life-threatening disease. Pulmonary involvement in terms of severe pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome (SPHS) has recently become a more frequently reported facet of leptospirosis and correlates with high mortality rates. It has not yet been described in returning German travellers. We present a case of a healthy young man developing massive pulmonary haemorrhage and severe ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation and high-dose catecholamines after travelling to Indonesia. Leptospirosis was verified by blood PCR as well as serology and treated with high-dose, intravenous penicillin. Outcome was favourable, the patient recovered completely. Leptospirosis and SPHS should be taken into account as an emerging infectious disease in patients with fever and lung involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese encephalitis virus is the leading cause of encephalitis in Asia and parts of the Pacific. Despite the high number of symptomatic infections in endemic countries, clinical disease in travelers is rare. However, an increasing number of imported infections from popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia have been recorded in the past few years, including serious disease courses in short-term travelers. Here we report two severe, non-fatal cases in tourists, who returned from a long-time stay in Thailand and a short-term trip to Bali, Indonesia, respectively. Recommendations for vaccination and pre-travel advice are discussed., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)