How not to get sick while traveling

Traveling is not only the pleasure of meeting a new, previously unfamiliar country, its culture and customs, but also always a rather troublesome, partly risky undertaking. There are no number of those small and big troubles that lie in wait for a tourist on the road. Ticket errors, forgotten things, street thieves, currency differences, cultural differences, voltage differences in outlets, price differences, unexpected expenses.

In order to successfully pass this "obstacle course" a person must be at least healthy and certainly not get sick during the trip itself, so as not to be helpless in "foreign territory". And there are many prerequisites for this ... Not everyone will have extra money for expensive restaurants (which inspire 100% confidence in the sanitary sense), few can pass by the local market, full of national flavor, and in the heat you just want to drink a soft drink. Is it possible to resist swimming in hot weather in some wonderful river in a picturesque and preferably sparsely populated place? A walk through the city, a walk through the forest, the jungle ... Is it really possible to give up what a person actually made such a long journey for?

The best way to stay healthy and not "catch" any local infection is to get vaccinated. With the confidence that no germ or virus will catch off guard, the traveler can fully enjoy the restful relaxation they have worked so hard for.

Vaccination against this infection is relevant for tourists planning to travel to warm countries and resorts – from Crimea to Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus and Spain.

• The infection is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, with contaminated food and water
• The disease lasts 1 month
• Treatment requires severe dietary restrictions
• The percentage of mortality and complications is low

In order not to guess during the whole trip: to eat or not eat this dish, drink or not drink this water, swim or not swim in this reservoir, "get sick" or "not get sick", it makes sense to get vaccinated in 2-3 weeks. For adults, one shot will be sufficient, while children will need two shots 4 weeks apart. This primary vaccination protects for 1.5 years. Those who wish to extend their carefree existence for 9 years or more will need another vaccination in a year.

In the CIS countries, one Russian and several imported vaccines are available for the prevention of viral hepatitis A.

This disease is widespread in northern Africa, India and neighboring countries, in Central Asia.

• The disease is caused by special salmonella (Salmonella typhi)
• Like hepatitis A, typhoid fever is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, but unlike its more harmless "brother", it is a more serious disease
• The infection affects the intestines, nervous system and other organs
• Complications (5-10% of cases) are toxic damage to the central nervous system, intestinal perforation, resulting in peritonitis and death of the patient
• In 2-5% of cases, the sick person becomes a chronic carrier of the infection

Vaccination with modern vaccines consists of one injection. Immunity is developed 1-2 weeks after vaccination for 5 years in 75-90% of those vaccinated.

The Russian vaccine "Vianvac" and the French "Typhim Vi" are registered in the CIS countries.

Lovers of Asian flavor - Thailand, India, China, Vietnam - are advised to think about vaccination against rabies. The infection is fairly common in South America as well. Rabies is a disease that is bad to be joked about.

• The main vector of the virus in these countries are dogs, which are the common favorites of the local population (according to statistics, 3-4 out of 100 dogs in Thailand have rabies)
• This infection is still 100% fatal

Prophylactic vaccination consists of 3 doses given on a schedule of 0-7-21 (or 28) days. That is, you should think about getting vaccinated against rabies no later than a month before the trip. This vaccination protects against rabies for 3 years.

Two Russian vaccines (CAV and COCAV), German Rabipur^® and one French are registered in the CIS countries.

This disease has recently become highly relevant for almost the entire territory of Russia and some regions of Ukraine. So lovers of "Moscow region bream and mushrooms" and other "home" exotic, we strongly recommend that you think about vaccination against this infection. Vaccination is especially recommended for those who plan to visit Karelia, the Ural region, Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk Krai, Novosibirsk region and the Volga region. As before, the infection is extremely relevant for those planning to visit Austria and the Czech Republic in the spring and summer.

• The virus is transmitted by ticks
• The infection manifests itself as inflammatory brain damage, leading, in turn, to serious neurological complications

The peak incidence is observed in the spring-summer season, coinciding with the peak activity of ticks, which are the main reservoir of infection in nature. Woodlands, mixed forests and even city parks (!) Are tasty "pastures" for ticks.

The vaccination consists of 2-3 doses with an interval of one month for the primary vaccination and one booster dose given after 9-12 months. This vaccination protects 95-100% of those vaccinated.

On the territory of the CIS, two Russian-made vaccines and two imported drugs are registered. Of the imported vaccines, the most widely used vaccine is "FSME-Immun Inject" (Austria).

A dangerous, incurable and insidious disease, common in the African continent and in South America, transmitted by the bites of certain types of mosquitoes. To enter the countries of the listed regions, a mandatory vaccination is required.

• Mortality among adults reaches 60%
• Symptoms, complications resemble Crimean Congo fever – damage to the nervous system, hemorrhages in internal organs and the brain

Vaccination is given with a live attenuated vaccine, consists of one dose and protects for 10 years.

On the territory of the CIS, Russian and French vaccines are used.

Those wishing to visit countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia should consider getting vaccinated against meningococcal disease.

• Mortality from meningococcal meningitis remains at the level of 5-10% (even with modern antibiotics and all the necessary conditions)

For protection, only one dose of the vaccine is needed, which protects the vaccinated person for 3-5 years.

In the CIS, two Russian vaccines are used (against meningococci of serogroups A and A + C) and the French "Meningo A + C".