The US Embassy in Managua, Nicaragua, has issued an alert that 1,752 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported in Nicaragua from July to October 2009. The majority of cases were in the capital and in the department of Masaya.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted illness for which there is no vaccine and no specific treatment. A rare form of the disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever, is more severe and sometimes fatal; a few cases have been reported. Travelers should use anti-...

On Sept. 2 a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Java, Indonesia, killing at least 35 people and injuring hundreds around Cianjur, Tasikmalaya, Garut and Sukabumi.

On Sept. 30 a 7.6-magnitude quake hit the island of Sumatra. Over a thousand were reported killed, with thousands more feared dead. 200,000 homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed.  

On Oct. 1 another quake, measuring 6.6, struck off the coast of Sumatra, escalating damage.  

Soon after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake occurred southwest of American Samoa on Sept. 30, a series of tsunami waves hit Samoa, American Samoa and the Tonga islands, killing at least 129, injuring hundreds more and destroying villages, tourist resorts and roads along the coast. Many people fled to safety when the tsunami warning was broadcast on the radio.

Fiji and the Cook Islands had large waves but no reported damage.