Away Clinic Travel Medicine Blog

  Photo credit: Ben & Gab Going on an African safari can be an amazing and life-changing experience, but it's important to take the necessary health precautions to ensure that you stay safe and healthy throughout your trip. First and foremost, it's important to consult with a travel medicine specialist or your primary care physician at least four to six weeks before your trip. This will give you enough time to complete any necessary vaccinations or medical treatments and ensure that you have the appropriate prescriptions and over-the-counter medications to take with you. Some of the vaccinations recommended for travel to Africa include those for  yellow fever typhoid, hepatitis A, and malaria . It's also important to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses, as mosquitoes can carry diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. To reduce your risk of being bitten, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, use an insect repellent that contains DEET or picaridin, and sleep in...

  Yellow fever is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that spread yellow fever are of the Aedes and Haemogogus species, which are found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America. The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, but it can also be transmitted from person to person via blood or bodily fluids. Monkeys can carry yellow fever. They are known to be a natural host for the virus, and can act as reservoirs for the disease, meaning that they can carry and spread the virus without showing symptoms themselves. Humans can also contract yellow fever from non-human primates through contact with infected blood or tissues, or from being bitten by a mosquito that has previously bitten an infected monkey. However, the most common way that yellow fever is transmitted to humans is through the bite of an infected mosquito, not through contact with monkeys or other primates. Why hasn't yellow fever been e...

Away Clinic , located in Chandler and Mesa, Arizona, provides yellow fever vaccines and yellow fever certificates necessary for entry into many countries in Africa.  A yellow fever vaccine certificate , also known as an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), is proof that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever. The certificate is valid for 10 years from the date of vaccination, and is required for entry into certain countries where yellow fever is present. To get a yellow fever vaccine certificate, you will need to visit a travel clinic that is authorized to administer the yellow fever vaccine . You will need to show proof of vaccination and get the certificate filled in by the provider. The certificate is filled with the name, date of birth and passport number of the vaccine holder along with the date of vaccination. Before you get vaccinated, it's important to check the entry requirements of the country you plan to visit, as well as recommendations...

Yellow fever in Darfur, Sedan | Image credit: Albert González Farran  The name "yellow fever" is thought to have originated from the characteristic yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) that can occur in people with advanced stages of the disease. This yellowing is caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells, in the bloodstream.

  The schedule for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine varies depending on the specific vaccine being used and the individual's age, health status, and travel plans.

Photo credit: Self Magazine The typhoid vaccine is generally considered to be safe, and most people experience no side effects from it. However, as with any vaccine or medication, there is always a small chance of experiencing side effects.