Travel Vaccinations

How does one get the disease?

Rabies is primarily spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, typically a mammal.

What happens when you get the disease?

Once symptoms appear, the disease progresses rapidly and can lead to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, ultimately causing death. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle weakness, and seizures.

Is there a treatment or prevention?

Treatment for rabies typically involves a series of vaccinations, as well as administration of rabies immune globulin. Prevention includes vaccination of both humans and animals, as well as avoiding contact with potentially infected animals.

How does one get the disease?

Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi and is spread through contaminated food or water.

What happens when you get the disease?

Symptoms of typhoid can include fever, weakness, abdominal pain, headache, and loss of appetite. In some cases, a rash may also develop. If left untreated, typhoid can cause serious complications such as sepsis, internal bleeding or perforation of the intestine.

Is there a treatment or prevention?

Treatment for typhoid typically involves antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or azithromycin. Prevention includes practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands regularly and avoiding consuming contaminated food or water. A typhoid vaccine is also available and recommended for people who are planning to travel to or live in areas where the disease is common.

How does one get the disease?

Shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in your nerve cells and reactivate later in life to cause shingles.

What happens when you get the disease?

Shingles typically cause a painful rash or blistering on one side of the face or body. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, and fatigue.

Is there a treatment or prevention?

There is no cure for shingles, but antiviral drugs can help shorten the length of the outbreak and make it less severe. It can also be treated with pain medication, and a vaccine is available that can help prevent shingles or make it less severe if you do get it.

How does one get the disease?

Yellow fever is caused by a virus and is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, typically of the Aedes or Haemogogus species. The mosquitoes that transmit yellow fever are mostly active during the daytime.

What happens when you get the disease?

Symptoms of yellow fever can include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. In severe cases, yellow fever can cause jaundice, kidney failure, and bleeding. The disease can be fatal in up to 50% of severe cases.

Is there a treatment or prevention?

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, only supportive care can be given to manage symptoms. Prevention includes avoiding mosquito bites by using repellents, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors during peak mosquito hours. A yellow fever vaccine is available and recommended for people who are travelling to or living in areas where the disease is present. Additionally, mosquito control measures such as reducing mosquito breeding sites can also help to prevent the spread of the virus.

How does one get the disease?

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a viral infection that spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth or nose.

What happens when you get the disease?

Symptoms of influenza can include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and even death.

Is there a treatment or prevention?

Treatment for influenza typically involves supportive care to manage symptoms and prevent complications. This can include rest, fluids, over-the-counter pain relievers, and antiviral medications such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, which may help shorten illness duration but will not cure the infection. Prevention includes getting a flu vaccine, which is updated every year to protect against the most common strains of the virus, practicing good hygiene such as frequent hand washing, and avoiding close contact with sick people.

How does one get the disease?

Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are all caused by bacterial infections and are spread through contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person. Tetanus is commonly contracted through a contaminated wound, diphtheria is spread through close personal contact or through the air, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is spread by breathing in respiratory secretions from an infected person.

What happens when you get the disease?

Tetanus causes muscle stiffness and spasms, often starting in the jaw and neck. Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the back of the throat, which can make it difficult to breathe and can cause damage to the heart and nervous system. Pertussis causes severe coughing fits that can make it difficult to breathe, eat, or sleep. All three of these diseases can lead to serious complications, and, in some cases, death

Is there a treatment or prevention?

Treatment for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis typically involves antibiotics and supportive care. Prevention includes vaccination, which is highly effective in protecting against these diseases. The tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended for people of all ages, especially children and adults who are in close contact with infants. Boosters are recommended every 10 years for tetanus and diphtheria.