Yellow fever and Rabies

[*Touring Ted*]

hey all..

I have had most of my jabs for South America now.

The only ones I havnt had are Yellow Fever and Rabies..

The reason I havnt is because they cost a bloody fortune in the UK. £150 each. (yer im cheap)

Now, do I really need them ?? I do want to travel freely over the whole continent. I hear you need the certificate for some borders.

Rabies worries me because its ALWAYS fatal.

[javkap]

Rabies it isn't fatal. If you receive the right treatment.. On your shoes I could be worry about the dog if he bite you maybe he will get some paranoia illness…
Hehehe
Come on mate, stop to be worry and start to enjoy just from now…….
Saludos.

PS. You can get most vaccinations you wont here in BA for less money than there….but not sure for the paranoia …… ( I do it again, sorry….)

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by javkap

Rabies it isn't fatal. If you receive the right treatment.. On your shoes I could be worry about the dog if he bite you maybe he will get some paranoia illness…
Hehehe
Come on mate, stop to be worry and start to enjoy just from now…….
Saludos.

PS. You can get most vaccinations you wont here in BA for less money than there….but not sure for the paranoia …… ( I do it again, sorry….)

HAHAH !

You know, this is the bad thing about having family who are doctors and nurses. They tell you to get everything and show you pictures and statisitcs of people getting tropical diseases..

[tprata56]

I am no exper tbut ...

Unless you plan on digging a canal in Panama or some such place, I think your risk of Yellow Fever is slim. If you are in the bush for extended period of time - maybe you are cutting illegal tropical hardwoods (for example), use lots of mosquite repellent. Malaria and dengue are two diseases of real concern.

From what I know vaccines for rabies are not common travelers. Maybe a good idea for a vet working with wildlife. Avoid eating monkeys and bats.

Biggest risk is STD - but I won't there.

[maria41]

In Peru they were giving Yellow fever jabs for free few years ago when going to Puerto Maldonado. Based on medical treatment so far everything is far cheaper here than in the UK. And as it is private no queuing!

[SalCar]

Originally Posted by tedmagnum

hey all..

I have had most of my jabs for South America now.

The only ones I havnt had are Yellow Fever and Rabies..

The reason I havnt is because they cost a bloody fortune in the UK. £50 each. (yer im cheap)

Now, do I really need them ?? I do want to travel freely over the whole continent. I hear you need the certificate for some borders.

Rabies worries me because its ALWAYS fatal.

I traveled all around SA without any shots..... the only place i was required to have the yellow fever (and another one but don't remember the name) and they actually checked was Venezuela... but they gave me both shots for free at the border...

if you are planning to get off the beaten path often then i recommend taking all the precautions.... and enjoy the ride

[The Big J]

I didn't get rabies either (the shot or the disease) and this is what the books told me.

Rabies is transmitted by bites or scratches of infected animals, dogs or vampire bats. Don't sleep in the open (ie hammock and no mozzie net in the jungle) will lessen the risk. Most likely is a dog bite. Obviously the deeper and more serious the bite greater the chances of infection

IF you get bitten you should contact your travel insurance immediately. This is covered as emergency treatment and they can arrange transport to get you the shots, about 5 shots over a few weeks, not very pleasant but better than dying of rabies. As I understand this is required to begin within about 48-72 hours of a bite so capturing the animal to see if they froth at the mouth after a week is a bit late...

Immediate treatment is to wash the wound, I believe they said with bleach and rinse for a good half hour but don't quote me. You could do this while on hold for the travel insurance...

Obviously this is no substitute for a doctor's advice. I almost got bitten when I wandered into an aggressive dog's territory and the exit had me cornered by a fence. Have a read about it on a travel medicine website just to have the knowledge on hand, I don't think it is anything to panic over.

[*Touring Ted*]

I dropped into the Liverpool School for Tropical medicine today.

I had a private consultation, explained my trip and they said I would be stupid not to get Yellow Fever, Hep B and rabies.

Yellow fever is a major threat in all of the Amazonian basin, all of Colombia and Venezuala and also parts of Bolivia, Paraguay and Uraguay. Sure, its fine in most of SA but if I feel like going somwhere dodgy, I can now. Its £30.

Rabies is a threat all over SA and the doc was telling me that he has treated 2 people who were bitten by dogs chasing motorbikes. (thats before i told him i was going by bike)

It needs 3 shots = £135 in the UK.

Hep B was a personal choice but a good idea for the adventure travellers. Blood transfusions, tatoos and sex with strangers all carry a major risk. Its free on the NHS but because im doing it so late, the NHS cant do it in a short time so i will have to pay for the first 2 privately shots costing £90

Im going to get them done as I want to go to Africa next year too. Ill definately need them there so might as well get covered for both now !!

[The Big J]

Originally Posted by tedmagnum

Hep B was a personal choice but a good idea for the adventure travellers. Blood transfusions, tatoos and sex with strangers all carry a major risk.

But the tattoos are the best part! Honestly some of these doctors are a bit naive, how many travellers are going to get a tattoo at a parlour with dirty needles?

Do you have time to get the Rabies shots? I thought they were a 6 week deal? Sounds like a fairly good call in all honesty. I was being a cheap arse.

For £90 in South America they'd give you the shot AND a couple of strangers to have sex with...

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by The Big J

But the tattoos are the best part! Honestly some of these doctors are a bit naive, how many travellers are going to get a tattoo at a parlour with dirty needles?

Do you have time to get the Rabies shots? I thought they were a 6 week deal? Sounds like a fairly good call in all honesty. I was being a cheap arse.

For £90 in South America they'd give you the shot AND a couple of strangers to have sex with...

With rabies they can do a fast track. I just about have enough time. I get the last shot a day before a fly out .

I know i could of got them cheaper over there but i cant be arsed with the hassel.

I know its expensive and I know im probably over preparing, but I've waited so long to do this trip, ill be very anoyed if i end up critically sick or dead !

[Walkabout]

BBC NEWS | Americas | Fever vaccines sent to Paraguay

[charapashanperu]

Brazil does want you to have yellow fever (the shot !!). We got ours free in Puerto Maldonado, Peru (July 07) for free before crossing over, but when we got to Brasileia they said that our little yellow card was no good, but that they would exchange if free for an international one right there at their posta as if we had gotten it there!

So much formality to be so INFORMAL !!! :confused1:

Toby (charapa) Around the Block 2007 |

[dirtydeeds]

Good choice on getting the rabies shot.

I don't have one, haven't NEEDED it but there are stray animals all over and dogs do like to chase motorcycles. In my part of Canada they are $600. If I remember I asked about it in Colombia and it was also expensive. I am in a different country and should ask again...

Thanks for the reminder.

j

[bananaman]

A friend of mine was bitten by a dog in Costa Rica a year ago, had to do the whole anti-rabies protocol afterward, and didn't die or anything.

I' just rode from Mexico to Panama. I'm headed to South America in three weeks. I wear tall boots and keep my hand on the throttle. I don't have the rabies shots but I carry the yellow fever card in my passport. I did the hepatitis vaccines, and plan on getting a tatoo and ear ring if I make it to Ushuaia.

[bananaman]

Today the travel nurse at my clinic told me to get the rabies vaccine. So I'll get it. I don't have time to get all three shots here in the US, so I'll have to get shot number 3 in Panama. I'm going to see if she'll give me a vial of vaccine and let me self-administer it. My insurance (an HMO) pays for each shot. I only have to pay $15 if I see a doctor. Each medicine (cypro, zythro, doxycycline, vicoden) costs me $15.