Thursday, January 30, 2014

Are you current on all your immunizations, if planning a trip to South America?

South America is rich in breathtaking scenery. There is something or the other for the traveler to experience in South America.

However, before planning a trip to America are you immunized with all necessary vaccines?

Firstly, you should check with your family doctor about your past immunizations. This will help verify which all vaccines you have so far and how many booster vaccines you require.

After judging all the aspects, now if you need to get vaccines to travel to South America, you must visit a travel clinic at least six weeks prior to your departure from NYC. This is because travel immunizations need time to become effective in the body.

Following are few vaccines that you must acquire before travelling to America:
  • Hepatitis A: This disease is commonly found in South America. It is caused majorly because of contaminated food and water. However, primarily reason of Hepatitis A is contaminated aspect only, but this disease can also occur from personal contact as well.

  • Hepatitis B: It is caused through sexual contact and blood transmission. However, vaccine shots of Hepatitis A and B virus, if obtained within six months helps one to be safe from getting infected.

  • Typhoid: This disease is not commonly prevalent in South America, but yes, some parts of New York are still exposed to this disease. Therefore, to be on a safe side it is important to get typhoid immunization.  

  • Yellow fever: This is the common illness in South America. It is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. No treatment is there if one is affected by yellow fever, but it can be preventable if one gets vaccinated before traveling to jungle regions or areas which are suspected with yellow fever.

  • Rabies: Travelers who are in contact with wildlife or stray animals, or exposed to climbing, they might be exposed to rabies disease. Therefore, before exposing to such areas, it is must to get vaccinated.

  • Malaria: If traveler is staying in America for extended period, visiting rural areas or destinations like jungles, then they are at a risk of getting malaria. Therefore, one must take preventive measures to be secured from getting exposed to malaria. 

Travelers usually tend to miss this vaccine because they have an illusion that this disease is not dangerous, but one must not take risk of their life and get themselves vaccinated.