Destinations
SOUTH AFRICA
When travelling in your country of residence, one presumes that there is no need for special precautions. This is not true of South Africa.
With our diverse terrain (everything from desert to sub-tropics), some infections and dangers exist only in specific areas. Visitors to those areas should be aware of these dangers and take necessary precautions. This applies particularly to people visiting bush camps, game parks, hikers and back-packers (or anyone who comes into close contact with the natural environment).
Malaria: The Limpopo river border, the Kruger National Park, most of the lowveld and Northern Kwazulu-Natal are infected areas. Bilharzia occurs throughout Kwazulu-Natal and almost everywhere north of Johannesburg - with some isolated pockets in the Port Elizabeth and East London areas.
Rabies occurs mostly in dogs in Kwazulu-Natal, in the bat-ear Fox in the Western Cape and in the Yellow Mongoose in Gauteng. Tick-bite Fever is widespread in the country - but especially common on Mpumalanga and the East Coast from PE to the Mozambique border.
Your shortlist of possible requirements:
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B Malaria Rabies Bilharzia Tick-bite Fever
AFRICA
The list here could be quite long – particularly if you are camping out or back-packing in the rough. However, if you are staying in bigger cities and in fine hotels, the risks are considerably reduced.
Yellow Fever inoculation is required by law for most central African countries and you cannot enter many of them without proof of inoculation.
Malaria prevention is vital virtually all year round in central Africa – and the disease has become resistant to some medications in some areas. In summer travellers are at risk in all of sub-Saharan Africa. Mosquito nets and insect-repellents are also a good idea. Meningitis occurs in a belt across central Africa (mostly north of the equator) and inoculation is strongly advised.
Hepatitis A, Cholera, Typhoid and Diarrhoea frequently occur where water is anything less than 100% safe. Hepatitis B is transmitted like the AIDS virus – and the possibility of a blood transfusion or the sexual behaviour of the traveller will determine the necessity of this inoculation.
The bush traveller may be exposed to Tick-bite Fever, Rabies, Bilharziasis, Sleeping Sickness, Filaraisis and other infections or parasitic diseases.
Your shortlist of possible requirements:
Hepatitis A,Hepatitis B, Travellers Diarrhoea, Malaria, Rabies, Cholera, Typhoid, Meningitis, Yellow Fever
WESTERN WORLD
Just when you thought it was safe to venture beyond our borders to civilised destinations like Western Europe, the USA, Canada or Australasia – you find that it's not entirely plain sailing…..
The World Health Organisation demands that travellers (entering or leaving) any country show proof of valid Yellow Fever inoculation if they have been to central Africa or South America. The disease does not occur in South Africa – but some health authorities may insist that travellers from 'Africa' show proof of inoculation – even if they have travelled directly from South Africa. Passengers have been known to be sent home – or given the choice of inoculation at the arrival airport (often at exorbitant rates). So, you might consider inoculation before your departure ...
Some rare diseases also occur – Rocky Mountain Spotted fever (similar to Tick-bite Fever), Plague and Rabies (particularly from bats in the USA). Lyme Disease (also caused by ticks) occurs in the USA and Europe.
And besides the dangers of infections like Hepatitis A (possible virtually everywhere) and Hepatitis B (transmitted like the AIDS virus) there are quite a few food poisons that occur frequently – like salmonellosis (2-3 million cases annually in the USA alone).
Your shortlist of possible requirements:
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B ,Food Poisoning, Travellers Diarrhoea, Yellow Fever
ASIA
Travelling to the East brings an exotic array of risks to one's health. Besides the regular precautions regarding the consumption of food (beware particularly of semi-raw foods, especially fish), you might resist the temptation of approaching some semi-tame animal (eg. temple monkey). The incidence of rabies is extremely high, particularly in India.
Malaria is widespread - although some of the tourist centres are low risk areas. Others, however, need special medications because they have become resistant to most forms of prevention.
During the monsoon season many areas become flooded and the danger of cholera increases dramatically. Great care should be exercised with regard to the consumption of water.
If you intend going to some remote rural areas (particularly where pigs are reared) you should be aware of the dangers of Japanese encephalitis. Dengue fever, elephantiasis and Japanese encephalitis are all mosquito-borne diseases found predominantly in South-east Asia. If you only intend visiting the bigger cities (and particularly the tourist cities) your risks are probably quite small.
Your shortlist of possible requirements:
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis E, Malaria, Dengue Fever, Bilharzia, Cholera, Elephantisis, Japanese Encephalitis
INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
First-class medical care is not always available throughout the Indian Ocean Island resorts. (Comores, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Maldives). Being prepared for the potential infections of the area could make a big difference …..
Yellow Fever and malaria do not occur in all the Indian Ocean islands. Maldives, Reunion and Seychelles are clear, Mauritius has only a very mild form of malaria. Madagascar, Comores and Zanzibar are high-risk islands.
Other infections that occur in this region include Hepatitis A & B, Cholera, Typhoid and Bilharziasis (Madagascar & Zanzibar) and Meningitis.
Most of these can be prevented – or at least the risk can be reduced. A few injections and a little knowledge go a long way. You can also make your trip much more enjoyable with some precautions regarding sun exposure and some general insect-repellents.
Your shortlist of possible requirements:
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Travellers Diarrhoea, Cholera, Typhoid, Meningitis, Yellow fever
SOUTH AMERICA
First-class medical care is not always available throughout South America. Being prepared for the potential infections of the area could make a big difference …..
Yellow Fever, Malaria, Dengue Fever, South American Sleeping Sickness, Elephantiasis and River Blindness are a few of the insect-borne diseases that the traveller should know about.
Other infections that occur in this region include Hepatitis A & B, Cholera, Rabies, Typhoid and Meningitis.
Most of these can be prevented – or at least the risk can be reduced. A few injections and a little knowledge go a long way. You can also make your trip much more enjoyable with some 'extra's' like altitude sickness tablets (particularly if you intend going to Peru/Bolivia) .
Your shortlist of possible requirements:
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Malaria Travellers Diarrhoea Altitude sickness remedies (Peru & Bolivia) Cholera, Typhoid, Rabies, Meningitis, Yellow fever
