Traveling to Africa is an exciting experience, but it's important to make sure you are prepared for the journey. All travelers to Africa need the hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine, and many destinations require the yellow fever vaccine. It is also important to make sure you are up to date with all your routine vaccines before every trip. This includes tetanus, diphtheria and diphtheria vaccines, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
Babies aged 6 to 11 months should also be vaccinated against hepatitis A. The dose does not count for the routine 2-dose series. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that travelers going to certain areas of South Africa take prescription medications to prevent malaria. Depending on the medication you are taking, you will need to start taking it several days before your trip, as well as during and after the trip.
Talk to your doctor about which antimalarial medication you should take. Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis (CDC Yellow Paper) Information on malaria in South Africa. Infants aged 6 to 11 months traveling abroad should receive 1 dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine before traveling. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.
Measles (Rubella): CDC Yellow Book Rabid dogs are commonly found in South Africa. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while you are in South Africa, rabies treatment may be limited or unavailable. Consider getting vaccinated against rabies before your trip if your activities mean you'll be surrounded by dogs or wild animals. Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider getting a rabies vaccine for children traveling to South Africa.
Most animals avoid people, but they can attack if they feel threatened, protect their young or their territory, or if they are injured or sick. Animal bites and scratches can cause serious illnesses such as rabies. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly and treatment may not be available in some countries. Malaria is a risk in some parts of South Africa.
If you are going to a risk area, fill your prescription for malaria before you leave and carry enough with you for the entire trip. Follow your doctor's instructions for taking the pills; some should be started before you leave. If your doctor prescribed an antimalarial medication for your trip, continue taking the rest of the pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.
Malaria is always a serious illness and can be fatal. If you get a fever while traveling to an area at risk of malaria or after returning home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and inform your doctor about your travel history. You should get vaccinated at least 10 days before you plan to enter a yellow fever area. This is because it will take a few days before you receive effective protection and you may experience flu-like symptoms, which are unpleasant on a long-distance flight.
Once you have received the vaccine, the travel clinic will issue you an international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis (IVCP) showing that you have been vaccinated. It's a good idea to make sure you're up to date with all the common childhood vaccines before visiting an African country (you may even need a booster dose). People who travel to a congregation, such as the carnival in Brazil, the Kumba Mela in India And, more importantly, people who travel to Mecca to celebrate Hajj, the meningococcal vaccine with the ACWY strain is mandatory and must carry the appropriate documentation with them. If your travel plans to South Africa include outdoor activities, follow these steps to stay safe and sound during your trip.
If you don't feel well returning home after a trip abroad, always seek the advice of a health professional and let them know your travel history. Including a visit to your local travel doctor before you go to Africa will help protect your health while you're away and increase your chances of returning home healthy. Use the luggage list for healthy trips to South Africa for a list of health-related items and consider packing for your trip. Consult your travel doctor for health and vaccination recommendations based on your general health, age and travel itinerary.
For information on road safety and road conditions in South Africa, see Travel and Transportation in the information specific to the U. S. Department of State UU. for South Africa.
Travelers to rural areas for extended periods of time, children and people who are in close contact with animals are at greater risk of contracting rabies and should talk to a travel doctor about the possibility of receiving a prophylactic rabies vaccine. As soon as you know that you are going to travel to Africa, whether for business or pleasure, contact Travel Clinics of America.
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