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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

Typhoid

Rabies

Tuberculosis

Malaria risk

There is substantial Malaria risk throughout the central & south areas and anti-malarial prophylaxis is advised.  However there is only very minimal risk in Paramaribo city and along the northern coast.  This can be discussed in further 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 (e.g. through blood transfusions or the use of blood contaminated instruments such as intravenous needles). 

• Leishmaniasis is spread through the bite of an infected sand fly. It can cause a slowly growing skin lump or ulcer and sometimes a serious life-threatening fever with anaemia and weight loss. Infected dogs are carriers of the infection. Sand fly bites should be avoided whenever possible. 

• Filariasis is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms may include fever and skin inflammation. Precautions must be taken to prevent mosquito bites, as there is no vaccine available against Filariasis.

• Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping sickness) is spread through the tsetse fly found south of the Sahara and north of the Zambesi river.  A simple boil like reaction may occur at the site of the bite, followed by generalised rash, fever and progressive neurological symptoms.  Travellers to these areas should be aware of the risk and avoid contact with infected flies where possible.

• 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. 

• Schistomiasis (Bilharzia) is spread through the fresh water snail. The larvae produced by the snails can swim and seek out human skin and find their way into the bladder and intestine. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, blood in urine and stools.  Paddling or swimming in suspect fresh water lakes or slow running rivers should be avoided.

• Dengue Fever, 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.