Travel Insurance Related Tips

Travel Immunizations – What You Really Need in South America

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matter what country you’re from and how experienced a traveler you are, the
bottom line is you probably need to get some immunizations before you do any
traveling to developing countries. We asked our adventure friends around the
world what they thought and below are their recommendations for travel to South
America.?

Travellers to South and Central America should get the minimum vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Center for Disease Control including:

• Hepatitis A & B

• Typhoid

• Yellow Fever – This vaccine is always a good idea if you will be in the jungle since
  there are periodic outbreaks and deaths. Some countries require it for entry.

• Rabies - Yes, rabid animals can bite you even in the most cosmopolitan city and, once bitten, you could die unless you received the rabies vaccination in advance.

• Flu Shots -? Flu
  Season in South America begins in June.? If you are traveling during the
  Southern Hemisphere’s winter, you may be exposed to circulating influenza—both
  seasonal and H1N1.

• Malaria medication might also be recommended depending on the country.

Immunization Tips

Your once in a lifetime trip should not be hampered by bringing home an unwanted souvenir of yellow fever or other malady. With proper preparation, you can maintain your health and remain at ease for traveling any where in South America.

Aswin Kedia from Vacapedia shares his tips of what to consider before getting your all important jabs.

Check Immunization Records Verify your previous immunizations and if they meet the routine requirements for the area(s) you plan to visit. Typically this should include measles and DPT shots. A require a booster shot may be needed if it has been a long duration since your most recent shot.

Visit a medical professional A doctor who specializes in travel medicine can enlighten you about the recommended and required vaccinations needed for a specific country. Recommended vaccinations are not mandatory but required vaccinations are. Your doctor should also be knowledgeable of all recent notifications or health risk warnings issued by the?World Health Organization.

Medications Individuals should contemplate taking prescribed medication, such as anti-malaria drugs in order to avoid potential medical problems.

Timing Immunizations recommended and required to prevent unwanted illness need to be injected in advance of your trip. Plan on having your vaccinations completed several weeks before your departure to South America. Some vaccinations require a series of shots such as those used for?Hepatitis B.

Considerations Learn as much as possible about the possible health risks and preventions for the country you plan to visit. For detailed information in the different geographical locations of South America, visit the?Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

South America Safety Tips

In addition to getting the proper immunizations, Christy Grimste from Educators Overseas offers these tips for staying safe in South America.

Check the water You should assume that local tap water isn’t safe to drink, even in the nicest hotel in town and even if someone tells you it is. So, while brushing your teeth is probably ok as long as you don’t swallow (ask local expats though, just to be sure), only drink bottled water or purified tap water. To resolve this
bring along iodine tables and portable water filters.

Peel your produce Raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables and sold on the side of the road are also suspect. No matter how beautiful that apple looks, you’re better off peeling it first!

Kick the bacteria The first few weeks in any new country will likely bring some stomach discomfort as your digestive system adapts to a level of cleanliness you might not have been used to. For this, an excellent natural remedy is yogurt, whose live active yogurt cultures will help kill off the bad bacteria in your system.

Practice sun safety Even on overcast
days, the sun can be stronger that you think. Sunblock and sunglasses
are the best protection from harmful effects of UV sun rays.

Ward off the mozzies Some locations in South America are notorious
for infected?mosquitoes.?To protect yourself from bites, always wear
lightweight long sleeve shirts, long pants and a hat when venturing
outdoors. Deet can be purchased in your neighborhood pharmacy and acts
as a repellent.

Altitude sickness can range from a simple and annoying headache to a life threatening crisis.? Altitude sickness is more common at altitudes of 2500m (8200ft) or more and usually involve a rapid ascent.? Very fit hikers, car travel and stepping off a plane are great examples of "rapid ascent" which is considered gaining more than 900m (2970ft) in a single day. The best prevention for altitude sickness s a slow ascent and the best treatment is to descend the mountain immediately.? Lastly, remember the golden rule of altitude that states "any illness or headache experienced above 2500m should be considered altitude sickness until proven otherwise". More detailed info on altitude sickness here

Useful Links

Jim Sano at?Geographic Expeditions also advises checking out these sites/documents that provide you with a sense of what to do to
stack the deck to prevent health issues and
address unforeseen problems in destinations where access to high quality
western medical care may be limited:

• Regional specific
  maps for malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever immunization

• Personal
  medical kit recommendations

• Directory for travel medicine specialists via the International Society of
  Travel Medicine

Read more stories from WorldNomads.com to help keep you travelling safely. WorldNomads.com – an essential part of every adventurous traveller’s journey.

Typhoid Fever: advice for travellers

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This week, a typhoid outbreak in Fiji has been reported.? With the pacific islands of Fiji being a very popular travel destination for Round-The-World trippers and family holiday makers, we thought it important to give you a quick overview of the situation and some info about typhoid fever.

The Age.com.au on March 3, 2010 reports that…

"The rapid spread of typhoid fever in Fiji is alarming, according to travel medicine experts.? There are 99 people now infected with the disease – 55 contracted typhoid fever over the past week."

What is typhoid?

Typhoid fever, also known as enteric fever? is a life threatening illness caused by the bacteria salmonella typhi.

How is it Transmitted?

The organism Salmonella Typhi can only live in humans. People who have been infected with the organism carry it within their intestinal tract and blood stream, and they shed the bacteria in their faeces (stools).

You can get typhoid fever if you consume food or drinks that have been handled by someone who is shedding Salmonella Typhi, or if your water for drinking or washing food has been contaminated with sewage that contains the bacteria. The most common routes of infection are contaminated drinking water, milk and food.

Where is it present?

It’s usually common in most parts of the world, with the exclusion of industrialised regions. So it is therefore more present in developing countries.

How do I avoid Typhoid Fever?

It is quite simple and easy to avoid typhoid fever by following two simple rules:

1. Get Vaccinated

2. Avoid food or drinks that could be at risk

These basic safety suggestions will also help you prevent other
diseases like travellers’ diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery and hepatitis
A.

• If you’re drinking water buy it bottled or bring it to a “rolling boil” for 1 minute.
• Drink beverages without ice unless you know it was made from bottled water.
• Eat food that is thoroughly cooked still hot and steaming.
• Avoid raw vegetables that can’t be peeled, when you eat fruit & vegetables that can be peeled peel them yourself and don’t eat the peelings.
• Remember to wash your hands before eating or peeling things, if running water is unavailable try to always carry an antibacterial hand gel that you can use for this purpose.?
• Avoid food and beverages from street vendors it can be hard to keep things clean on the streets, many travellers get sick from eating or drinking things purchased at a street vendor.

A handy catch cry used with regular travellers to developing areas or areas at risk of infection is “Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it!”

If you are travelling to an area where typhoid is common or an outbreak is present, you should consider vaccination. So visit your GP or travel Dr to discuss vaccination options.

Typhoid vaccination is recommended for all travellers over two years old and should be conducted 2 weeks prior to travel. The vaccine is available both as an injection and orally.

What are the signs & symptoms of typhoid fever?

A person who is suffering from Typhoid fever usually will have a sustained fever that can be as high as 39? to 40? C, can feel weak, suffer from stomach pains, headache, loss of appetite, malaise, muscle pain & dry cough. In some people a rash may develop that is flat and has rose coloured spots. The only way to know if it is Typhoid fever is to have blood or stools tested for the presence of Salmonella Typhi.

What should I do if I think I have Typhoid fever?

You should see a doctor immediately; you can refer to your Travel Insurance Policy Certificate for your medical assistance company’s contact numbers and they will help you find a recommended doctor in the area you are in.

Treatment is usually in the form of antibiotic tablets or injections, the three most commonly prescribed are ampicillin, trimethoprim- sulphamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. People who are given antibiotics usually start to feel better within 2-3 days, and death rarely occurs. People who do not get treatment can continue to have symptoms for weeks to months, up to 20% of these people die from complications of the infection.

Even when your symptoms seem to subside you could still be carrying the bacteria Salmonella Typhi. If so the illness can return, you can still pass the disease on to other people. If you are being treated for Typhoid Fever, please keep taking the prescribed antibiotics for as long as the doctor has asked you to take them, wash your hands with soap & water after going to the toilet, do not prepare or serve food to other people.

Have your doctor perform follow up stool samples and tests to ensure the bacteria are no longer within your system