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Other vaccine preventable risks

The following vaccinations may be considered depending on your itinerary and planned activities. These can be discussed in more detail with one of our travel health consultants.  

Hepatitis B

Rabies

Malaria risk

 Risk of Malaria is present in southern areas of Mexico bordering Guatelmala and Belize. Malaria tablets are adivised for risk areas. This can be discussed in detail with one of our travel health consultants.

Non-vaccine preventable risks

• Travellers' Diarrhoea  is usually caused by eating contaminated food or drinking unsafe water.  Symptoms may be severe with frequent watery stools, thirst, dry mouth and tongue, headache and weakness. Water should always be treated when there is doubt about its cleanliness. Food that may be contaminated must be thoroughly cooked and hands washed prior to eating.

• HIV infection is spread through sexual intercourse or infected blood or blood products (eg. through blood transfusions or the use of contaminated instruments such as intravenous needles).

• Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is spread through the bite of a small black fly which breeds in fast flowing water. It can cause a skin rash with intense itching which usually occurring months or years later post exposure. Occasionally the eye can be affected. Camping near rivers should be avoided and precautions taken against bites. 

• Dengue , which is often referred to as break-bone fever, is spread through the bite of the mosquito. It causes a feverish illness with headache and muscle pains like a bad, prolonged, attack of influenza. A rash can also develop. It is becoming more common in many parts of the world. Mosquito bites should be avoided whenever possible. 

• Trypanosomiasis is transmitted to humans through the skin of infected reduviid bugs.  The disease may have an acute but often asymptomatic phase, followed by chronic systemic symptoms.  The risk to travellers is generally low, unless staying for prolonged periods in very rural and poor circumstances.

• West Nile Fever is contracted through mosquito bites. It has become more widely recognised in recent years. Symptoms include fever, sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis, swelling of the lymph glands and rash. Especially during summer months, travellers should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a viral illness transmitted to humans via infected ticks.  Symptoms are often mild such as a fever and rash, yet may occasionally become severe and even life threatening.  Avoidance of tick bites where possible is recommended.