AFRICA - Traveler's Health Information
Diseases, parasites, illnesses, inoculations, prevention, vacinations,...
9/02/2010 - Optimized for Firefox 3.6.8 - COPYRIGHT 1992 thru 2010
I am NOT a Doctor - Consult a Travel Doctor - I Have NO medical training
Use this information at your own risk - it may be wrong or outdated
Call 911 or go to a Hospital for medical emergencies
I ASSUME NO LIABILITY - You do or do not do things at your own risk
Feel free to link to any of my pages
COLORS to WEAR and to AVOID and Other Precautions
AVOID MISQUITOES
AVOID TSETSE FLIES - (active only during the daytime)
AVOID SAND FLIES
Use Insect repellent - 100% DEET in Africa - KEEP OFF YOUR SKIN
Other sources, say no more than 70% DEET.
Still other sources, say, limit it to 40% or 50% DEET
DEET
There is no insect repellent that is effective against the tsetse fly
RID Insect Repellent claims to be effective against the Tsetse Fly
RID - Information about
RID - Information about
Consider chemically treated (usually permethrin) clothes (I would keep these off of my skin).
AVOID wearing (dark) BLUE and BLACK - (tsetse flies)
Stick to LIGHT TAN or shades of KHAKI or such neutral colors
(do NOT wear: White, red, bright yellow, and bright blue are easily seen by birds.
When birds are disturbed, they alert other animals nearby)
DO NOT BRING ANY CAMOUFLAGE CLOTHES - it's illegal - you could go to jail
AVOID wearing DARK COLORS (misquitoes)
(subcutaneous) gamma globulin
Note that several US government sites recommend taking an injection
of: subcutaneous gamma globulin, to boost one's immune system,
before going to Africa. This is expensive, and you want the subcutaneous
type. For two persons, total, combined body weight of about 315 pounds,
our cost wast estimated to be about $300 USD. Some studies show recognizable
benefits, and some do not (show recognizable benefits).
Gamma globulin injections
CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR - I MAY BE MISTAKEN ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME:
You should wait at least THREE MONTHS AFTER getting a vaccine that contains
a live virus (for example, a Yellow Fever or MMR vaccine) BEFORE getting a
shot of gamma globulin, otherwise, the gamma globulin may prevent the live
vaccine from giving you immunity.
You should take gamma globulin a week before you expect to "need" it.
You should wait at least three months months?? after getting gamma globulin,
before you get a vaccine containing a live virus.
Check with a local Travel Doctor MORE than SIX MONTHS PRIOR
to your trip, if you intend to get Hepatitis 'A' and/or
Hepatitus 'B' shots (they are spaced over a six month interval)
actually, a FOUR MONTH MINIMUM "should" work (so they say).
Health Information for Travelers to Kenya
Currently, 5/11/2010, If you get all of the recommended inoculations
for Keny, you are also covered for Botswana, South Africa, Zambia
and Zimbabwe (THIS MAY CHANGE AT ANY TIME) - EXCEPT FOP MALARIA -
the Malaria in South Africa is resistant to more treatments than
is that of Kenya.
Discuss Malaria, and all of the countries to which you are going,
with both your doctor and your travel doctor.
Health Information for Travelers to Botswana
Health Information for Travelers to South Africa
Health Information for Travelers to Zambia
Health Information for Travelers to Zimbabwe
CD Recommendations for Adult Innoculations (schedule) - even if you never travel
KENYA - Travelers Health Information
VACCINATIONS - before the Trip
ROUTINE Vaccinations - 4/2010 Prices
MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella - $85
DPT - Diphtheria / Pertussis / Tetanus - $75
YELLOW FEVER - innoculation Proof required for many African countries - $126
HEPATITIS A - the most common travel-related infection - $85
A booster dose should be given 6-12 months later to provide long-term immunity.
Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine appear to confer protection for at least ten
years. Recent evidence suggests that the duration of protection after two
doses is probably 20 years or greater.
Older adults, immunocompromised persons or other chronic medical conditions
who have less than two weeks before departure should receive a single
intramuscular dose of immune globulin (0.02 mL/kg).
HEPATITIS B - a very serious disease that has no cure - $80
MALARIA
TYPHOID - $85
Meningococcal (Meningitis) - YES, DEFINITELY - $135
MPSV4 should be used for persons >55 years of age.
POLIO - YES, DEFINITELY - A Booster Shot - $65
MD Travel Health - Kenya - vaccinations, malaria, safety, and ...
All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal
drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs.
Malaria - mdtravelhealth
One option for emergency self-treatment is to take a combination of
artemether and lumefantrine, marketed as Coartem in the United States
and as Riamet in Europe.
Malaria Tablets - Which To Take for a Safari Trip?
SOUTH AFRICA - Travelers Health Information
Health Information for Travelers to South AfricaVACCINATIONS - before the Trip
Routine - measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc. - YES - GET THEM
MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella - $85
POLIO - Booster Shot - $65
DPT - Diphtheria / Pertussis / Tetanus - $75
Vaccination against CHOLERA is now possible with the oral vaccine Dukoral. But this vaccine does not provide 100 per cent protection
Apparently, 3/31/2010, Vaccination against CHOLERA NOT yet approved for use in this country.
HEPATITUS A - $85
HEPATITUS B - HIGHLY Recommended - unlikely, unless you need a transfusion or dental work - $80
MALARIA
RABIES - probably not?
TYPHOID - YES - $85
YELLOW FEVER - $126 - innoculation Proof required if arriving via KENYA and some other countries.
OTHER, MORE RARE, MALADIES FOUND IN AFRICA
African Sleeping Sickness (trypanosomiasis - AVOID TSETSE FLIES
trypanosomiasis is transmitted by infected tsetse (Glossina Genus) flies found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Infection of international travelers occurs but is rare. On average, a single case per year
is reported among U.S. travelers - CDC.
T. b. rhodesiense is found in eastern and southeastern Africa. Over 95% of the cases of T. b.
rhodesiense infection occur in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia. - CDC.
T. b. gambiense is found predominately in central Africa and in limited areas of West Africa.
Over 95% of the cases of T. b. gambiense infection are reported from the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Angola, Sudan, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Chad, and northern Uganda - CDC.
African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) - WHO
Sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) - Google Health
African trypanosomiasis - Wikipedia
African Trypanosomiasis - CDC DPD
African Sleeping sickness Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and ...
Sleeping sickness: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Quick Africa Health Links
U.S. Adult Immunization Schedules - for those who stay AT HOME
Possible Side-effects from Vaccines
Malaria
Medical & Health - Travelguide
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC
MD Travel Health - South Africa - vaccinations, malaria, safety ...
South Africa Travel Health, Vaccinations, Health, Safety - worldtravelguide.net
Sub Saharan Africa - gov.uk
OTHER INFORMATION