TRAVEL HEALTH ADVICE (click for general advice)

MAURITIUS

• 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: tetanus; poliomyelitis; hepatitis A.
• Vaccines sometimes advised: diphtheria; hepatitis B.
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from areas with risk of yellow fever transmission.

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.
• Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and water, causing liver inflammation and jaundice. It is commonly found in overcrowded conditions where hygiene is poor.
• Diphtheria is also spread 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.

Malaria - See Map

• The risk to tourists is minimal but there may be a small risk of exclusively benign vivax Malaria - See Map in rural areas of Mauritius Island itself, although no cases have been reported since 1998. There is no risk in Rodriguez Island which lies to the eastmauritius.
• Malaria -precautions: 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 advised.
• Prompt investigation of fever is essential.