Important Tropical Disease Notes: If during your holiday or after you return home from you develop flu-like illnesses or any ailments such as fever, nausea, stomach pain, discolouration of urine, jaundice  or any  health problems  then you should immediately go and see your doctor who may refer you to a specialist hospital for a check up. Some symptoms can occur within a few days after your return home while Malaria can sometimes develop up to 1 year later! 1) Hepatitis A (HAV) is an infectious virus found in faecal  matter and is a chronic long-term liver disease that can spread from contaminated water and food.  Hand washing, good personal hygiene, using condoms and making sure that anything you eat is very hot should be made routine particularly when visiting local restaurants and villages. 2) Meningitis is cased by several kinds of bacteria and affects the brains lining and spinal cord. Some of the symptoms are skin rashes, vomiting, fever, and drowsiness. It is prevalent during the dry season from Senegal to Ethiopia in what is called the “Meningitis Belt”. So if you are planning to go on a trip to visit Senegal between November to June then it is strongly recommended you get a precautionary jab. 3) Polio is a viral disease that is resident in humans and is spread through infected stools and affects mostly young children. Poliomyelitis spreads via contaminated food or water but thankfully has now almost been eradicated in the West Africa region by WHO vaccination campaigns. Over 90% of those infected show no symptoms. 4) Tetanus is caused by a bacterium, Clostridium tetani, which exists in the environment (soil, dust, and animal waste) as a spore or as a plant cell. It affects the nervous system and causes uncontrollable muscle spasms. It affects those who have not been immunised or have a weak immune system. Check that you have had your tetanus booster shots which should last 10 years. 5) Typhoid is a  bacterial disease which is caused by Salmonella typhi and is found in contaminated water or food via infected human waste. It can be treated with some antibiotics but you would be advised to get vaccinated prior to your departure. 6) Yellow Fever is a disease that is hosted by monkeys and carried by the mosquito which then bites and infects people. The necessary injections should last for up to 10 years.

Links: www.traveldoctor.co.uk General Safety Precautions Personal safety has to be high on your priority especially regarding crime and traveling at night. Read on... Food & drink Safety: Because this is the tropics you should be careful with what you eat outside. Always make sure that cooked food is piping hot before you eat it. For more on food hygiene see the page below: Banjul Belly. Note carefully: Always seek the advice of your doctor before deciding to take or not to take any medications or precautions.