There are, of course, stories of friends who travel, for example, to India, Thailand, South Korea, to Cuba, do not get vaccinated and feel all right. However, at times there are quite unpleasant incidents, which one ought to remember when going on a trip.
The World Health Organization is raising the alarm for a reason. Annually in the world occur a lot of outbreaks of dangerous diseases, which our fellow countrymen are not even aware of. Therefore, if you are planning a long trip, it will not be out of place to find out about the epidemiological situation at the point of your destination.
On the international website https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/ you can find information on desirable and mandatory vaccinations, as well as general recommendations for travel to all countries of the world. The WHO website http://www.who.int/ith/en/# publishes the most relevant data on vaccination and disease outbreaks in different parts of the world.
In some countries, tourists may be refused entry if there is no document, confirming the vaccinations made. For example, vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory for a number of countries in Africa and South America. The fact is that it is almost impossible to protect yourself from contracting the infection – it is spread by local mosquitoes. The vaccine is administered every 10 years and no later than 10 days before departure.
Ideally, the vaccination should be completed a month before the trip. Although every vaccine has its own "nuances". Depending on the chosen destination, doctors most often recommend to get a vaccine against hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, rabies, Japanese and tick-borne encephalitis, meningococcal infection and cholera.
If you are going for a short while and plan a beach holiday in tourist places, the risk of getting sick is reduced manifold. More attention to their health should pay those travelers who prefer long trips, plan camping in the wild, and also intend to visit remote regions and abandoned places.
Vaccination of tourists is carried out by both private and public hospital rooms of immunoprophylaxis. It is necessary to find out about the availability of the vaccine in advance, especially if it concerns rare vaccinations.
If you do not believe in vaccinations when traveling to distant locations, it is necessary to take into account the general recommendations, especially if you are going to third-world countries, with a low standard of living:
- Wash your hands not only before meals, but as often as possible;
- Rinse raw fruits and vegetables with hot water;
- Drink only bottled water, preferably opened by yourself;
- Opt for drinks with no ice;
- Be vigilant in contact with the local population;
- Avoid trips to forests, jungles, nature reserves;
- Refrain from contact with animals.
To catch an unpleasant infection, it is not always necessary to leave far from home. Some diseases are common in certain regions of the Post-Soviet space.
Be cautious and attentive to your health. As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed.