TRAVEL HEALTH ADVICE (click for general advice)

EYGPT

• Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended in the vaccination schedule - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly).
• Courses or boosters usually advised: diphtheria; tetanus; poliomyelitis; hepatitis A; typhoid.
• Vaccines sometimes advised: rabies; hepatitis B.
• Yellow fever certificate required if over 1 year old and entering from an infected area. Air passengers, without a certificate, and in transit from yellow fever infected countries will be detained in the precincts of the airport until their journey is resumed.

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

• Tetanus is contracted through dirty cuts and scratches and poliomyelitis spread through contaminated food and water. They are serious infections of the nervous system.
• Typhoid and hepatitis A are spread through contaminated food and water. Typhoid causes septicaemia and hepatitis A causes liver inflammation and jaundice. In risk areas you should be immunised if good hygiene is impossible.
• Diphtheria is also spread through by droplet infection through close personal contact. Vaccination is advised if close contact with locals in risk areas is likely.
• Hepatitis B is spread through infected blood, contaminated needles and sexual intercourse, It affects the liver, causes jaundice and occasionally liver failure. Vaccination is recommended for those at occupational risk (e.g. health care workers), for long stays or frequent travel to medium and high risk areas, for those more likely to be exposed such as children (from cuts and scratches) and those who may need surgical procedures.
• Rabies is spread through bites or licks on broken skin from an infected animal. It is always fatal. Vaccination is advised for those going to risk areas that will be remote from a reliable source of vaccine. Even when pre-exposure vaccines have been received urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal bite.

Malaria - See Map

• Small risk of serious Malaria - See Map in El Faiyum area (50 miles south of Cairo on west bank of the Nile) from June till October.egypt.htm"> Malaria - See Map Map).
• Malaria -precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
• AntiMalaria tablets are not normally recommended.
• Prompt investigation of fever is essential.