IMMUNIZATION

Smallpox has been eradicated throughout the world and vaccination against smallpox is no longer required for world travel.

Stopovers in under developed countries whilst travelling to developed countries should not be a worry if the hotel accomodation is satisfactory and you avoid tap water, ice cubes, salads, peeled fresh fruits, raw vegetables and foods from street vendors.

In Africa, the Pacific Islands, Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, sanitary and hygenic conditions vary greatly and whereas staying in first class hotels may pose no risks, visiting smaller population centres and rural areas may put you at risk and immunisation may be necessary.

You should be immunised against some or all of the following diseases depending upon the possible dangers you may be exposed to in a particular country :- Yellow fever, cholera, thyphoid, plague, meningitis, rabies and hepatitis.

More information about immunisation can be obtained from the Commonwealth and State Department of Health.

Your doctor should also be up to date with this knowledge also and can immunise against all of the listed disease with the exception of yellow fever vaccine which can only be administered at the offices of the Commonwealth Department of Health.

Yellow fever is the only disease in the world for which a compulsory certificate of vaccination is necessary in certain African and South American countries. Even then, it may only be necessary if the traveller is entering particular parts of those countires. Information about this should be obtained from the Commonwealth Department of Health.

A few countries still require a certificate of cholera vaccination. These countries include Albania, Cape Verdi, India, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Pakistan, Pitcairn, Somalia, the Sudan and Tanzania.