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Staying Healthy on the Road Medical info, e.g. malaria, vaccinations, travel medical tips, medical insurance, where to find a doctor.
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  #1  
Old 5 Mar 2014
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Thanks all for all the info, I will be getting the shots now,

Bertrand The money was never an issue, was just putting it up there for people to know how much it was. I just wanted peoples opinion on what they had done and came across on there travels, as you say how much do you value your life.


@ noel di pietro - very insightful info there, thanks.

@Laura73 - Yes, totally agree there,
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  #2  
Old 5 Mar 2014
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Rabies - yes or no

No question - rabies is a killer, and motorcyclists are an easy target for aggresive dogs, even if they don't have rabies.
I too have been attacked on the Dogbayazit road, it's no joke to have large dogs after you.
Almost any mammal can carry rabies, you will find your owen level of trust by observation, but you must assume the worst case first, the shots are a relativly cheap insurance.

Peter, in Oslo
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Old 6 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by GSPeter View Post
I too have been attacked on the Dogbayazit road, it's no joke to have large dogs after you.
First I was chased by dogs in east Turkey, but that was easy on a lonely road, just accelerate and they could not follow....... but maybe 3-4 times, the dog(s) entered the road ahead of us, and run towards us, with their teeth exposed, now that was a totally different ballgame..... maybe someone needs to develop some sort of ´Sausage Thrower´ for this purpose
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Old 5 Mar 2014
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My two pesos worth. I'm an animal lover, write books about animals (one about street dogs in Latin America), pet them, get along well with them. Never bothered with the jab for the Americas. I've never heard of a case of rabies here. However in Asia, Africa, the incidence of rabies is much higher! Getting a vaccination is tough on your body. Choose wisely!
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Old 6 Mar 2014
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Thanks especially Lorraine I agree never heard of dog rabies in South America but in eastern Turkey 2 years ago we were warned. I encountered a rabid bull in Costa Rica.

Anyone know how many years the preventive injections are good for? In 1966 I had a series of rabies injections in my stomach as mandated for Peace Corps volunteers serving in Costa Rica.

High boots and good throttle have avoided all incoming thus far... I like the flinging of meat aft by pillion. Need a deployment system for those of us who fly solo.
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  #6  
Old 6 Mar 2014
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Rabies VERY nasty, I have had the inoculations, and would really recommend you get them, it's not just dogs that can give it to you:

foxes, bats, skunks and coyotes. Wolves, weasels, badgers, mountain lions and other mammals can also have rabies. (even bears but the is extremely rare)

Fish, birds and reptiles aren’t mammals, so they can’t carry the disease.
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Old 6 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by brendanhall View Post
Rabies VERY nasty, I have had the inoculations, and would really recommend you get them, it's not just dogs that can give it to you:

foxes, bats, skunks and coyotes. Wolves, weasels, badgers, mountain lions and other mammals can also have rabies. (even bears but the is extremely rare)

Fish, birds and reptiles aren’t mammals, so they can’t carry the disease.
Not to forget cats and monkeys. Woun't pet a badger or wolf easily but domesticated monkeys and cats can be tempting. And infected animals are not alsways crazy with rage, they can also become very docile and affectionate! Simpel rule to follow is; never touch any mammals dead or alive.
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Old 8 Mar 2014
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yep the monkeys at the Monkey Temple in Kathmandu have a taste for blood!
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Old 8 Mar 2014
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I had this dilemma before my trip. I got the rabies jab, never (to my knowledge) got bitten, and came home alive. £150+ is a lot of money but those 24/48 hours might save your life. And rabies is a horrible way to die.

On a more general note (and I'm sorry if this angers anyone) I think we all have a moral responsibilty to take what we can to aid our health. The countries we travel through are (almost always) less well developed than our own and it's OUR choice to go there. Dare I say I think the traveller who doesn't take precautions (and don't kid yourself you CAN afford it) is being selfish. You'll be using scarce resources if you get ill and rely on help. Be it rabies, malaria or anything else if you can afford to go on a trip you can afford to pay for the drugs - and if the drugs weren't available at home I bet you'd be crying out for them to be.

Pay the money, protect yourself, have a great trip.
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Old 17 Mar 2014
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I took the vaccin when I went to eastern Turkey, Armenia and Georgia in 2010. Don't take the risk, you will encounter dogs (not necessary with rabies).
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  #11  
Old 18 Mar 2014
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Had my first jab yesterday, in the arm, Next is in 7 days time and then 28 days after that.
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Old 18 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by BigPete33 View Post
Had my first jab yesterday, in the arm, Next is in 7 days time and then 28 days after that.
Remember to get the booster 12 months (+/- week) after the first one. As it then will last for 5 years.



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Old 18 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by casperghst42 View Post
Remember to get the booster 12 months (+/- week) after the first one. As it then will last for 5 years.



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  #14  
Old 26 Mar 2014
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Vaccinations in the U.S. are exorbitantly expensive.

We got the rabies vaccinations in Bangkok at the exceptional Bumrungrad Travel Clinic for 600THB ($18us) each.

Travel Medicine Center | Bumrungrad Hospital Bangkok Thailand

We called beforehand to check which vaccine they were administering. It was the exact one the travel clinic in the U.S. was going to give us.

We also got some vaccinations at the Medi-Travel clinic at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Again, prices were way way way way lower than U.S. prices.

About MTI

Those in need of several vaccinations or medications who would be paying out of pocket for them (high deductible) would likely save the cost of their airfare by going a little early and getting these done outside of the U.S. system.
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  #15  
Old 27 Mar 2014
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I wouldn't worry about getting a Rabies Jab, just think about it ! after your very slow and agonising death of rabies, you will make the news on the TV in your home town & not to mention all the newspapers !!!! How goods that.....& I bet you may even get a mention in the Darwin awards f*$#@ Ripper you'll be famous !!!!! (in the local pub at least)
But you won't have bragging rights as you will be dead !!!:confused1:

Arrhhhh uumm better get that jab after all at least I'll be alive to whinge about the cost & still be able to ride my bike

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