Staying Healthy

Details: Hits: 55

Guest information by Hotel Embassy Kenya

Staying Healthy

Perhaps the single most important aspect to safeguard when you are on safari anywhere in the world is your health. Variations in weather and climatology in different parts of the world can affect your health from immune susceptibility to allergies to communicable diseases. It is strongly advised that prior to traveling, one should consult their consulates abroad and other health and safety information bulletins pertinent to the safari destination for updates regarding important health precautions. In Africa especially, susceptibility to malaria and other communicable and vector borne diseases is always a possibility. Prophylactic and other precautionary measures including vaccines are generally available from health services. If in doubt you can always contact your doctor for advise.

For updated travel related health and immunization issues, check out the CDC travel advisory site here.

Health Precautions

· Besides malaria, there are other insect-borne diseases such as dengue and sleeping sickness. These are less common, and you can use the same precautions you would use against mosquito bites: long-sleeved clothes and trousers, repellents and mosquito nets.

· In countries where drinking water isn’t properly regulated, stick to bottled or boiled water and avoid tap water, water fountains and ice cubes. Ask your travel consultant about the safety of drinking water in the areas you’ll be visiting.

· Use common sense when it comes to food and beverages. If you’re unsure of their origin, don’t touch them.

· If you’re walking, it’s best to wear shoes at all times.

· AIDS is rife throughout Africa, so if you’re planning to have intimate contact with the locals always use condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

· Avoid handling animals, especially monkeys, dogs and cats.

· Avoid swimming in stagnant water.

· The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following vaccines. See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for them to take effect:

· Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)

· Hepatitis B if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical treatment

· Rabies, if you come into direct contact with wild or domestic animals

· Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries

· Booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults, as needed.

· A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required for entry into certain African countries, particularly if you are coming from tropical South America or elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is no risk of yellow fever in southern Africa.

For more recent updates on immunizations needs per region, go here.