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Health
Information The Information below gives a brief description of a number of health
hazards and preventative measures which can be taken to avoid contact with
diseases when traveling overseas. Also listed is advice on water quality
(drinking, fresh &seawater). This Information is only a guide and therefore
we would recommend personal medical consultation prior to departure. The International Certificate of Vaccination no longer has a space for
details of cholera vaccination .The health organization states that the vaccines
currently available are unreliable and of short duration and therefore they do
not recommend its use as a means of protection. However , some countries still
require proof of vaccination if travelers are arriving from infected areas,
certificates are valid from 6 month. Diphtheria is a bacterial caused which appears in two forms, in the
throat or on the skin. The later is found most commonly in dry ,semi-desert
regions where washing facilities are scarce. Infection is spread by direct skin
contact with contaminated dust or by in hailing infected droplets from an
infected person e.g. when they cough . Diphtheria of the skin can be prevented
by daily washing and by keeping the skin clean and dry. Travelers, especially to
the tropics are at risk from all forms of diphtheria and Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is the most common disease to prevent through vaccination.
It may be contracted from contaminated food or water or from direct contact with
infected persons. Travelers from developed countries are likely to be prone to
infection and should be vaccinated if traveling to areas outside Australia,
Canada, western Europe, Japan, New Zealand and United States . There are two
forms of vaccination , one giving immediate but short-lived protection, the
other given in three doses giving up to 10 Years protection. Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is wide spread in all Africa ,much of south America,
Eastern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean area, south-east Asia, China and the
Pacific Islands except Australia, New Zaland and Japan. It is transmitted in a
number of way, sexual transmitted is a high cause, as is transmission through
the skin e.g. blood transfusion, invasive medical or dental treatment
,injections, acupuncture or tattooing etc. Vaccination is given in three doses
and will provide protection for 10 years. Polio The Polio virus still occurs continually in areas with low levels of
hygiene and low immunisation programs. Most travelers will have received
immunisation as a child however anyone traveling to a developing country should
never assume that they are immune. Rabies Rabies is a virus infection of mammals that can be transmitted to
humans, usually as the result of a bite from an infected animal. Rabies occurs
in most parts of the world, in Greenland, Canada and North America, throughout
the former USSR states, China and New Territories of Hong Kong as well as the
main tropical regions. Travelers involved in animal expeditions, cave exploring
of walking or cycling through urban or rural areas where rabies is endemic
should consider pre-exposure vaccinations against rabies. Tetanus Tetanus is common in many developing countries, especially in hot,
moist tropical areas . It is caused by the infection of wounds with the tetanus
bacteria. Travelers should check that they have received an initial immunisation
course and that they have had a booster injection within the last 10 years .
Tetanus is rare in travelers taking conventional holidays ,but it is a greater
risk for those going on safari, trekking , climbing or exploring holidays. Typhoid Typhoid is endemic worldwide .Transmission occurs in areas where many of the local population are carriers of the disease and hygiene standards are poor . In areas with good public health standards such as northern Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan immunisation is not necessary. Outside these areas risk of infection depends on local hygiene and lifestyle. Traveling or living rough and living in rural areas increase the risk of transmission, however staying in reputable hotels even within these areas reduces this risk. |