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You are here: Home > Africa Guide Articles > Taking Care Of Your Family's Health When Traveling To Africa Taking Care Of Your Family's Health When Traveling To Africa Here's a piece that won't be light or interesting reading, but where you will find some very important health considerations for travel to Africa. Planning ahead for these infectious disease hazards can save your trip or even save your life. Of all the destinations you could choose for your vacation, Africa presents the highest health risk for travelers. African trypanosomiasis, malaria, meningitis, Schistosomiasis, and yellow fever are found in many locations, and hepatitis B, HIV, and tuberculosis are common south of the Sahara. Hazards are greatest in countries where there has been fighting or political disturbance, where public health measures are likely to be neglected. Burns, cuts, scratches and scrapes need to be cleansed and dressed with care to avoid infection. Snakes, scorpions, and predatory animals can be dangerous in the wild, or in zoos. Resist any urge to pet animals held in cages. Blood products in much of Africa are inadequately, but the Blood Care Foundation (see Appendix) sends carefully screened blood products quickly worldwide. You need to register with the foundation before you leave on your trip. North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia) poses almost no risk of malaria, due to its desert climate, but a high risk of dehydration and heat-related diseases. Yellow fever does not occur in North Africa, but an international certificate of immunization against the disease is required for all persons over the age of 1 year traveling from an infected zone to Algeria, Egypt, Libya, or Tunisia. East Africa (Burundi, The Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda, and United Republic of Tanzania) is home to falciparum malaria year-round, and travelers to Mauritius are additionally at risk for the Vivax form of the disease. South Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, St. Helena, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe) is relatively free of infectious disease. Chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria, however, occurs in all of South Africa except Lesotho and St. Helena. Influenza outbreaks may occur any time of year in the tropical reaches of Botswana and Namibia, and seasonally (may through October) in Lesotho, sections of Namibia south of the Tropic of Capricorn, St. Helena, South Africa, and Swaziland. Meningitis is rare in South Africa except in Namibia, and there primarily at the beginning of the wet season. West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo) is plagued by chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria throughout the year, except in the Cape Verde Islands, where risk is limited to September to November, and in Mauritania, where chloroquine treatment is still usually effective. Influenza outbreaks can occur any month of the year in West Africa. Yellow fever is endemic in rural areas throughout West Africa. Most West African countries require an immunization certificate for admission to the country, except for infants one year and younger. And you also take cafe of bed bugs danger. |
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