AFRICA - Traveler's Health Information

Diseases, parasites, illnesses, inoculations, prevention, vaccinations,...

5/15/2022 - Optimized for Firefox 100.0 (Quantum) - COPYRIGHT 2009 thru 2022

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These web pages are generally arranged in Alphabetic Order, by Subject, with an INDEX at the end of each web page. Find your desired subject and double click on it.

COLORS to WEAR and to AVOID

AVOID wearing (dark) BLUE and BLACK - (tsetse flies) Darker colors will also make you sweat more, becoming more attractive to mosquitoes. Because dark colors absorb heat (causing more sweat) and lighter colors tend to reflect heat, mosquitoes also tend to be more attracted to people dressed in darker clothes According to the Discovery Channel mosquitoes are more attracted to the color blue than to other colors. 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). A NEW (2/2022) study shows: Hate mosquito bites? New research suggests wearing certain colors could make you a target They found that mosquitos were drawn most to red, orange, black, and cyan. They also found that mosquitos ignored green, purple, blue and white. When a researcher inserted their hand into the chamber wearing a green glove, mosquitos ignored it, even when it was sprayed with CO2. The shade of your skin doesn't matter, we are all giving off a strong red signature. It now (2/2022) looks to me (opinion) that (NOT dark) GREEN is the best color to avoid insect bites. It is also thought that mosquitoes may be attracted to YELLOW. Wasps love the color yellow. Most insects including mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue the most. NOT SURE ABOUT THIS -> Reds are the next popular color followed by oranges & then yellow. Please click here for more information about Tsetse Flies. DO NOT BRING ANY CAMOUFLAGE CLOTHES - it's illegal in some African countries (Kenya, for example) - you could go to jail for even possessing camouflage. AVOID wearing DARK COLORS (misquitoes)

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 KNOWN to be effective against the tsetse fly 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). Even Four out of Five VULTURES (in the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, in South Africa) AVOIDED me when I was wearing both RID and PICARIDIN - They BACKED RIGHT OFF, even though I was trying to feed them raw meat from my hand. A Fifth Vulture finally did take the raw meat out of my hand. However, We make NO claims to the effectiveness of this "technique". Mosquitoes that drifted near us, immediately moved away.

(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. These facts may change at any time. 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 Health in Kenya - worldtravelguide.net MD Travel Health - Kenya - vaccinations, malaria, safety, and ...

KENYA - Travelers Health Information

VACCINATIONS - before the Trip

Vaccinations for Kenya - mdtravelhealth.com Travel Vaccinations - netdoctor.co.uk Travel Vaccinations - AFRICA - netdoctor.co.uk ROUTINE Vaccinations - 4/2010 USA Prices MMR - Measles, Mumps and Rubella - $85 DPT - Diphtheria / Pertussis / Tetanus - $75 YELLOW FEVER - inoculation Proof required for many African countries - $126 TripAdvisor has a very GOOD yellow Fever FAQ for travelers to Kenya Travelers from YF countries face more stringent checks for immunization IF you have been in a country that has Yellow Fever outbreaks you could be required to prove that you have had a Yellow Fever inculcation. This YF non-requirement could change - check the requirements yourself. PRIOR to September 1992 there had been no record of Yellow Fever in Kenya. There seems to be litle risk of contracting YF during short trips. That being said: 1} Yellow fever has killed a few people in Kenya since 1992 - HMM UPON RE-READING INTERNET INFORMATION, I AM NOT SURE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ANY YF INCIDENTS IN KENYA AFTER 1996. http://www.mapsofworld.com/kenya/health/yellow-fever-in-kenya.html 2} Pregnant women should not travel to Kenya UNLESS they were previously vaccinated for Yellow Fever (it is not deemed safe for pregnant women or nursing women to be treated for Yellow Fever). http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/africa/kenya.php IT APPEARS THAT YELLOW FEVER KILLED TWO PEOPLE IN THE RIFT VALLEY, KENYA (2011) Kenya Forum: Suspected outbreak of Yellow Fever in Rift Valley (kenya) - TripAdvisor - April 14, 2011 "Baringo was affected by the only previous outbreak of Yellow fever in Kenya in 1992 -1993 when 3 people died." - TripAdvisor WHO (World Health Organization) has just determined (7/2014) that ONE Yellow Fever vaccination will last a person's LIFETIME (previously, good for ten [10] years only). 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 Africa

VACCINATIONS - 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

SUNGLASSES - Complete Information - Click HERE

SUNSCREEN - Complete Information, Ingredients, Products & Resources - Click HERE

INDEX and OTHER RELATED INFORMATION

AFRICA Complete AFRICAN SAFARI PLANNING | Africa - Traveler's Health Information APAP BITES - Treating & Identifying BLUE LIGHT (HEV = 400 to 500 nm) May help Cause Macular Degeneration BOTSWANA Cell Phones - for use in AFRICA & London Cell Phones - International CHIKUNGUNYA Virus - painful, no cure, no vaccine Chills CLOTHES and SAFARI GEAR Convulsions CPAP and Battery powered CPAP/APAP DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) - Mosquito Repellent DEET Sellers of Doxycycline Electric Outlet Shapes and Adapters - BOTSWANA Electric Outlet Shapes and Adapters - KENYA Electric Outlet Shapes and Adapters - NAMIBIA Electric Outlet Shapes and Adapters - SOUTH AFRICA Electric Outlet Shapes and Adapters - ZAMBIA Electric Outlet Shapes and Adapters - ZIMBABWE Electrical Connections / Plug Types / Voltage Fever GEAR, SAFARI GPS for Safaris HATS, SAFARI HEV (BLUE LIGHT = 400 to 500 nm) May help Cause Macular Degeneration IMMUNATION for Kenya Complete Insect Repellents & Killers Complete KENYA, Africa - Safari & Travel Information Information that you REALLY MUST KNOW LYME Disease LYME DISEASE IN SOUTH AFRICA Complete MALARIA Information Malaria in HIGH RISK African Countries Malaria in KENYA Malaria in OTHER African Countries Malaria in SOUTH AFRICA MALARONE - Malaria Prophylactic - RECOMMENDED Mefloquine Metofluthrin MONEY POUCHES / SAFES (to wear) MOSQUITO Borne DISEASES - Really complete Complete MOSQUITO Repellent & Insecticide Information Mosquito BITES - Treating Mosquito Netting Mosquito (electrified) Zappers (swatters) Netting OFF Clip-on mosquito "protection" OIL of LEMON EUCALYPTUS - OLE - a Repellent Periprel Permethrin PICARIDIN (KBR3023, or Bayrepel or Natrapel) - repellent Poisoning by DEET Poisoning by Insecticides Poisoning by METOFLUTHIN Poisoning by PICARIDIN (not very likely) Poisoning by PYRETHRIN Prophylactics / Malaria Preventative Medications RID insect repellent - said to also work on Tsetse Flies SAFARI GEAR SOUTH AFRICA SUNGLASSES - What they should do SUNSCREEN - Complete Sunscreen Warnings, Information, Ingredients, Products & Resources Sweating SYMPTOMS of MALARIA TICKS - Complete TICK Information Tick BITES Tick DISEASES TICK REPELLENTS TRAVEL INFORMATION TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel SUPPLIES Travel WARNINGS (US State Department) HEV = 400-500 nm (longer than UVA) - may cause Macular Degeneration UV400 (blocks UVA, UVB and UVC = 100 nm to 400 nm, but NOT HEC) UVA UVB UVC VACCINATIONS for Kenya WEST NILE VIRUS YELLOW FEVER ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE I researched most of this information prior to our 30 day African photo safari. We created these websites ONLY to provide free information to help other people. We are NOT a business of any kind, and make NO money from these web pages. Use this information at your own risk - it may be wrong or outdated. Call 911 (in the USA) or go to a Hospital for medical emergencies. Feel free to link to any of my pages. Privacy Policy - we keep NO information about visitors Terms of Use We NEVER get paid anything for endorsements of any kind David Woodsmall - Main Web page