Posted on by Travel Clinic NY

At Risk? A Traveler’s Guide to Preventing Malaria

With the summer travel season in high swing, it is worth considering the potential health concerns associated with your travel plans. If you are traveling from the United States or Western Europe to an area where Malaria is prevalent, such as parts of Africa and India, protecting yourself from disease is vital. While those living in areas where malaria is prevalent may have some immunity, travelers who have not been previously exposed to the virus should take a number of precautions to avoid contracting malaria.

Malaria is a parasite spread by the bite of infected mosquitos that affects the liver and red blood cells.Pregnant women, young children, and people with HIV/AIDS are particularly at risk. Symptoms include chills, high fever, and falling body temperature accompanied by profuse sweating. Although there is no vaccine to prevent malaria, there are some precautions that you can take to prevent mosquito exposure.

The key to malaria prevention is to avoid its source: mosquitos. Wearing clothing that covers most of your body, even in hot weather, is an easy way to protect your body from bites. Similarly, sleeping under a mosquito net can make a big difference in protecting from bites. Staying indoors with the doors and windows closed should also limit mosquito exposure.

Aside from physical protection, chemical sprays can help protect both your body and the environment from mosquitos. You can wear sprays with DEET on your skin to keep mosquitos away. Insecticides such as permethrin or detamethrin can also be sprayed indoors to a similar effect.

While protecting yourself from mosquitos is important, you may want to take the additional precaution of an anti-malarial drug. The Center for Disease Control lists several different preventative drugs including malarone, doxycycline, quinine, and coartem. Which drug a person takes will depend on age, location, and current health condition, among other factors.

To find out more about the health risks associated with your travel destination, visit the Center for Disease Control’s Traveler’s Health site.

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Posted on by Travel Clinic NY

Protect Yourself against the Yellow Fever Virus

If you’re planning on traveling in Africa or Latin America in the near future, you may need to think beyond packing sunscreen and booking accommodations. Visiting many countries in the regions carries high risk of contracting yellow fever.

Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. It is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and cannot be passed among humans. Typically, people with yellow fever have to be hospitalized. It can cause fever, jaundice, bleeding, organ failure, and even death in many serious cases. There is no cure for the virus, making prevention all the more important.

Other than avoiding mosquitos, an almost impossible task, there is no other way to prevent the virus than getting vaccinated. The vaccine is only given at certain vaccination centers such as Travel Clinic New York.

The vaccine is recommended by the Center for Disease Control for most individuals traveling to high-risk areas over the age of 9 months as well as lab personnel who might come into contact with the virus. Although people outside of high-risk areas are not recommended the vaccine, yellow fever can affect a wide geographic area, including the United States, and can prevent yellow fever wherever it may occur. The risks are also relatively mild, making the vaccine suitable for the vast majority of people.

As if preventing yellow fever wasn’t sufficient reason to get vaccinated, many countries require proof of vaccination or a “yellow card” for entry. A “yellow card” is given to all vaccinated persons and is valid between 10 days after vaccination and 10 years after vaccination. If you have previously had the vaccine and are planning on travelling, make sure that it is up to date!

If you have questions about the vaccine, please consult your doctor and the Center for Disease Control FAQ’s.

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