Africa Health (travel)

Here's a piece that will not light or interesting reading, but you can find some very important health considerations for travel to Africa. Plan ahead for this infectious disease hazards can save your trip or even save your life.
For all destinations that you can choose for your holidays, Africa presents the highest risk for the health of travellers. African trypanosomiasis, malaria, meningitis, Schistosomiasis and yellow fever are found in many locations, and HIV, hepatitis b and tuberculosis are South of the Sahara. Dangers are greatest in countries where there has been fighting or political disturbance, where public health measures are likely to be neglected.
Burns, cuts, scratches and abrasions must be cleansed and dressed with care to prevent infection. Snakes, scorpions and predatory animals can be dangerous in the wild or in zoos. Resist the urge to pet animals kept in cages.
Blood products in large parts of Africa are inadequate, but the blood Care Foundation (see appendix) sends carefully screened blood products quickly worldwide. You must register with the Foundation before you depart on your trip.

North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) brings almost no risk of malaria, thanks to its desert climate, but a high risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses. Yellow fever does not occur in North Africa, but an international certificate of vaccination against the disease is required for all persons over the age of 1 year travel from an infected zone to Algeria, Egypt, Libya or Tunisia.
Outbreaks of influenza in North Africa tend to occur over the same period of the year as in North America and Europe, November to April.
East Africa (Burundi, the Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania) is home falciparum malaria year-round, and travelers to Mauritius threaten for the Vivax form of the disease.
Meningitis outbreaks displayed per season in East Africa. Infection is possible all year round but risk is the greatest in the following months: April to November in Malawi and Mozambique, may through September in Burundi, from May to October in Djibouti and Rwanda, through November in the United Republic of Tanzania, July to November in Kenya, September to April in Eritrea, October through may in Somalia, June and October till June in Ethiopia. At the end of the rainy season in the Comoros, and throughout the year take place in Uganda outbreaks.
South Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, St. Helena, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe) is relatively free of infectious diseases. Chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria, however, happens in all of South Africa with the exception of Lesotho and St. Helena. Outbreaks of influenza occurs any time of the year in tropical reaches of Botswana and Namibia, and seasonally (May thru October) in Lesotho, sections of Namibia to the South of the Tropic of Capricorn, St. Helena, South Africa, and Swaziland. Meningitis is rare except in South Africa in Namibia, and especially at the beginning of the rainy season. Yellow fever does not occur in South Africa, although travelers from infected areas to introduce vaccination certificates must, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe regardless, if travellers over the age of one year in South Africa.
West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) is plagued by chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria throughout the year, except in the Cape Verde Islands, where the risk is limited to September to November, and in Mauritania, where chloroquine treatment is usually still effective. Outbreaks of influenza can each month of the year occur in West Africa.
Meningitis is a seasonal risk in most West-Africa. Although not strictly limited to any one season, is the incidence of meningitis the highest January through April in Liberia, may to September in São Tomé and Príncipe, September to may in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritania, Nigeria and Togo, October through April in Mali, October through June in Senegal, November through June in Gambia and Guinea Republic and December to April in Sierra Leone.
Yellow fever is endemic in rural areas throughout West Africa. Most West African countries, an immunization certificate server is required for admission to the country, except for infants one year and younger.



And also take café bed bugs danger.
Avoiding dehydration on the plane and discover more about traveler diarrhea than you ever knew you needed to know. Robert Rister is the author of nine books and more than 2,000 articles on natural health.