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I have been told that there is a problem with rabid dogs in Bali.  Could you please tell me if this is a real concern and what precautions my daughter could possibly take when she visits there in May?

Unfortunately this now is a real concern. Traditionally Bali has been free from rabies which has been known to be present on many other Indonesian Islands. In late 2008 sick and dying dogs appeared and then human cases of rabies after local people had sustained dog-bites. ... More..

I have worked for an international cruise line for the past 7 years, and have had hepatitis vaccinations for my work. l am to travel to meet up with my ship in Panama City from where we will be cruising around this area for a period of about 3 weeks, before relocating to the Caribbean. Do I need a yellow fever vaccination, and is this a mandatory requirement?

Yellow Fever vaccine is a requirement for entry to several countries in Africa and Sth America which lie in "yellow fever transmission areas"- [that is countries in which yellow fever is known to be a possible risk in some part of that country], and for re-entry into many other countries after a traveler has been in those countries or areas ... More..

I am travelling to Thailand (Phuket) for 2 weeks with a toddler who is 4 years old. I am concerned about her being bitten by mosquitoes and was advised that I should use a repellent with more than 40%DEET . Can you please advise if this is a good idea?

DEET (diethyltoluamide) is the active ingredient in many quality insect repellents, eg Repel, Rid, etc, and is very important to help avoid mosquito bites, and other insects, in the tropics. This is good protection against dengue fever, and a DEET containing repellent should be used, with sensible clothing and other anti-mosquito measures. ... More..

We are travelling overland through Egypt, Jordan and Morocco which will include trekking in remote areas. It has been recommended that I get the Cholera vaccine (not specifically for Cholera) but as a good anti-diarrhoea preventative. Do you agree?

A significant proportion of travellers diarrhoea (TD) is caused by the entero-toxic E coli bacteria, (ETEC). Because the cholera germ and the ETEC germ share the same toxin, the vaccine has an effect of providing some immunity against ETEC... More..


I have a blood disorder - Hereditary Spherocytosis and have had my spleen removed as a result. I am considering a trip to Thailand in October this year for approx 2 weeks and am seeking advice regarding vaccinations...

Because you have had your spleen removed in the past, it can affect your immunity. In particular your body's response to certain types of bacterial and parasitic infection can be reduced, which means those infections could be worse ... More..

 

I had heart attack in 2000. I take my medication daily and I excercise 3 times a week. Is it safe to travel to Ecuador?

There are many travellers in their 60s and 70s who want to travel to places where altitude  is a problem, and cardiac disease can be affected by heights above 2500m. Much of Ecuador is at heights around 2200-3500m, so people with known heart disease should be careful in selecting their itinerary, and ensure that their health is stable... More..

 

How can I avoid Chikungunya disease?

IA: Chikungunya virus has been around forever, and in Africa and parts of Asia it has been a historical cause of outbreaks of illness. The virus is transmitted by mosquito bites (like Dengue fever), and causes a fever, body aches and pains, and swelling and arthritis in the joints. In 2005 a very large outbreak began and swept from East... More...

We are going to Africa, Tanzania and Kenya, in February. There is currently a cholera epidemic happening in Africa, do we need to get vaccinated, as our doctor said we don’t need to?

Cholera is a water-borne (mostly) illness that causes severe, rapid dehydration from profuse watery diarrhea. The sudden and dramatic loss of body fluid can cause death, particularly in babies, elderly or sick people. More...

I am planning to travel to Malaysia and I will be 16 weeks pregnant. I want to travel between Melacca and Kuala Lumpur. What vaccinations do I need? Margaret, East Perth

IGenerally, peninsula Malaysia is a safe destination. The risk of most infectious diseases is low (and therefore the need for vaccines), there is no real risk of malaria, and the quality of medical services is quite high, especially in the big cities.

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I just returned for a holiday and we saw people in airports in Hong Kong and Tokyo wearing masks? What is that all about?

This is a very common practice across Asia, and a good one! While some folks are scared of picking up respiratory germs, many people in Asia recognize that their coughs and sneezes can be infectious to others, and so may well decide to wear a mask while traveling on public transport. More...

I am planning a family trip to Vietnam, my husband and I and 2 children, aged 10 and 8. Do we need to take malaria pills, as our GP wasn’t sure?

Vietnam is a great country to take a family holiday. There are a few basic medical precautions to be discussed with the Travel Doctor-TMVC, but nothing that can’t be done easily and safely. More...

About 6 years ago at school, I was vaccinated, along with all the kids in my class, with meningitis vaccine. Does this mean we are now protected against this disease?

In recent years, there has been a Government-funded program to vaccinate persons at school with the Meningitis-C conjugate vaccine, that is now part of the baby vaccine program. More...

My trip operator for a trip to Sth America has suggested I take some pills to stop getting altitude sickness. What is available for this?

What the trip-organiser is talking about is medications for the prevention of AMS, Acute Mountain Sickness, which is a syndrome of symptoms that occur in response to humans going to high altitude where there is less oxygen in the air. More...


 

Disclaimer: Information provided in this health column is of a general nature & should not replace specific advice from your own personal Travel doctor-TMVC consultation.
Not all questions submitted to the website will be answered & Users of this website should always seek the advice of a qualified health professional with any questions they have regarding their health or a medical condition.