The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is fast approaching and is due to fall between 24th and 29th October 2012. Hajj is the largest gathering of its kind in the world with over two million Muslims from around the world attending each year. A shorter pilgrimage Umrah can be performed at any time.
All pilgrims should ensure that they are up-to-date with routine immunisations including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
Meningitis ACWY – proof of vaccination is against meningococcal meningitis ACW135Y is required for all pilgrims aged 2 years and over. As outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis have occurred during previous Hajj pilgrimages vaccination is also advised for those under the age of two years. The vaccine should be given at least 10 days before travel and be given not less than 3 years before the date of travel. A certificate of vaccination is a requirement for visa purposes.
In association with the Muslim Council of Great Britain our clinic is able to offer anyone attending Hajj or Umrah the meningitis vaccine at the reduced rate of £35.
Polio – all pilgrims are advised to check that their polio vaccination is up-to-date. Polio vaccination lasts 10 years. If you require a booster you will receive a booster, using the trivalent tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccine.
Yellow Fever – a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for all pilgrims to Hajj and Umrah arriving from countries or areas at risk for transmission of yellow fever. You do not need a yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from the UK.
Influenza ( Seasonal flu) the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia recommends that all pilgrims are vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Influenza is easily spread in crowded conditions. If you have a chronic illness, are pregnant or a carer you may be entitled to an NHS flu vaccine. If you are not entitled to a flu jab we can help- cost £18.
Hepatitis A and Typhoid – pilgrims should consider being vaccinated against these food and waterborne diseases.
Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B virus is found in body fluids and can be transmitted through sexual contact or contact with bodily fluids. Transmission can occur through the use of contaminated medical, dental, or other instruments. Men must shave their head as part of one of the rites of Hajj. All pilgrims should consider a course of hepatitis B vaccine. Pilgrims should avoid shaving with a blade previously used and may want to take their own disposable razor blade to avoid risk of infection from Hepatitis B and other blood borne illnesses such as HIV and Hepatitis C.
Full vaccine recommendations for Saudi Arabia can be found on FitForTravel
To book vaccinations for Hajj please call 01273 749100 or book online
Sussex Travel Clinic is now booking appointments for flu jabs. Our flu vaccines will be delivered at the end of September and clinics will commence on Saturday 29th September.
Flu is a highly infectious illness and is easily spread through sneezing and coughing small droplets into the air. Flu can be very unpleasant and symptoms include: high temperature, sore throat, aches and pains and tiredness. Symptoms can last for 1 week or longer.
Flu can be prevented by having a flu shot. This will become effective 7-14 days after having the jab. The best time to get the flu jab is early autumn before flu cases in UK become high.
Some people will be entitled to a flu vaccine free of charge on the NHS. Those with chronic illness, those aged 65 years and over, pregnant women and carers should contact their GP for a flu vaccine.If you do not fall into any of these risk groups we can help.
Vaccination against flu for travel should be considered under some circumstances :
Reduce staff sickness this winter by offering your staff a flu vaccination. If you have a company with 10 or more employees requiring a flu vaccine contact us to arrange an on site visit at your place of work. This service is available from October onwards.
To book your flu vaccine call 01273 749100 or book online
Cost £18 per dose.
In 2012 there have been 13 incidents of young people falling off balconies abroad. There have been 3 deaths and other cases have resulted in serious injury. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office ( FCO) have joined forces with the Association of British Travel Agents ( ABTA) to highlight the safety of young travellers and help prevent balcony incidents among young people in popular holiday resorts.
9 cases in 2012 have been in the popular Spanish destinations; Majorca and Ibiza. Alcohol often plays a part in these incidents and all cases have occurred in young people aged 18 – 35 years old.
FCO and ABTA advise travellers to:
• Know the risks – climbing over or jumping off balconies can have serious consequences and result in injury or death.
• Alcohol can impair your judgment and hot climates can increase the effect of drinking.
• Make sure you have adequate travel insurance cover. You need to be prepared if things do go wrong. Medical bills and flights home to the UK can mean holidaymakers end up with a bill for thousands of pounds if they are uninsured. The FCO will not pay your medical bills or flights back to the UK.
The campaign tells the story of Jake Evans, 18, from Liverpool. Jake survived a fall from a 7th floor balcony last year after a few too many drinks. Leaflets will be distributed around resorts highlighting Jakes story.
Jakes Story
Sussex Travel Clinic are pleased to announce that we now sell Nilaqua No Rinse products.
The range includes a shampoo, conditioner and body wash.The shampoo and conditioner are alcohol free and have a lovely apple fragrance. Simply apply the shampoo or conditioner, massage to a lather and towel dry to remove dirt and grease. These simple to use washing products make your hair and body feel wonderfully clean, conditioned and refreshed. They are ideal for travel, camping or festivals.
They come in handy 65 ml sizes, making them perfect for short trips or packing when space is limiited.
Priced at just £2.99 per item.
Watch a video on How to use Nilaqua Shampoo.
We also sell a wide range of other travel hygiene products such as travel towels, hand gels, toothbrushes and sink plugs.
To purchase Nilaqua No Rinse Products or any of our travel accessories range pop in to our shop or order online. Free UK Delivery and customer loyalty points available.
Need to book an appointment for travel vaccines ?
We now have a new booking line number 0843 2891075. There is the facility to leave a message if we are unable to take your call at our busier times.
Don’t forget if you need to book an appointment you can also use our online booking facility. If you can not find a suitable date and time, please call the booking line and someone will be able to help you. We offer a text or email reminder service for all booked appointments.
Clinic Times
Monday 3-7 pm
Tuesday 9- 1 pm
Wednesday 9-3 pm
Thursday 3-7 pm
Friday 9-1 pm
Saturday 10-1 pm
To book an appointment for your travel jabs call 0843 2891075
The Public Health Ministry of Cuba reported last week that there has been an increase in diarrhoeal illness in recent weeks. The main province affected is Granma, with most cases reported from the municipality of Manzanillo. There have been approximately 1,000 cases, with three deaths being reported. Cholera has been isolated in 53 cases. [1]. Sanitation methods have been put in place to keep the outbreak under control.
Cholera is transmitted through contaminated water or food in areas where there is poor sanitation. The main symptoms include profuse and sudden watery diarrhoea. Severe diarrhoea can cause dehydration. The very young, elderly and those with poor immune systems are more vunerable. Cholera can be fatal, however, with prompt fluid replacement cholera is nearly always cured.
For most travellers the risk of contracting cholera is low, the cholera vaccine is only usually recommended for aid workers travelling to remote areas or working in a disaster area or refugee camp.
All travellers should practice strict food and water hygiene:
For further advice please call 01273 749100. To purchase travel products pop into the clinic or buy online.
References
1. http://www.nathnac.org/travel/news/choleras_cuba_050712.htm
Measles, Mumps and Rubella are highly infectious diseases that are transmitted through coughing, sneezing and direct contact with respiratory secretions. All the diseases are present worldwide.
Measles symptoms include: rash, flu-like symptoms, conjunctivitis and cough. It can be a very serious disease, particularly in children, with thousands of deaths reported worldwide each year.
Mumps symptoms include: fever, headache, joint pain and swelling of the salivary glands. For most people serious complications are rare, however, mumps can lead to viral meningitis and swelling of the testicles in males and ovaries in females who have gone through puberty.
Rubella, also known as German measles, is usually a mild infection with symptoms similar to the common cold. If caught in pregnancy rubella can cause miscarriage or multiple birth defects.
Advice for Travellers
In the UK all children are offered vaccination against MMR during their childhood as part of the UK childhood vaccine programme. The UK MMR vaccination programme was introduced in 1988. Those born between 1980 and 1990 may not have received two doses of vaccine and should have a booster before travel.
The diseases are still very common in many parts of Asia, Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South America. Outbreaks also occur in many developed countries including the USA, Canada, japan and the UK. In the past month alone there have been reports of measles outbreaks in the following countries: Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Israel, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia and Somalia. (Source: NATHNAC)
All travellers should ensure they are up to date with their MMR vaccine. This is particularly important for travellers who may be around children, living or working with locals or attending mass gatherings on their trip. Two doses of the MMR vaccine gives lifetime protection against all three diseases. If travellers have not had an MMR vaccine or the diseases then they should have 2 doses of MMR vaccine 4 weeks apart. MMR is a live vaccine and needs to be given on the same day as other live vaccines such as Yellow Fever or BCG, or separated by 4 weeks.
To book an appointment for an MMR vaccine call 01273 749100 or book ONLINE.
The Foreign and Common Office (FCO) has produced 3 videos aimed at assisting British nationals when travelling abroad. The key messaging within these focuses on preventing losing personal property when abroad, with a particular focus on the loss of passports in Spain, Portugal and Italy. There is also an additional video providing travellers with information on getting Emergency travel documents whilst abroad.
Watch these useful videos for further advice:
Trekking holidays in places like Nepal, Peru and climbing Kilimanjaro are becoming ever more popular amongst travellers. 30,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro very year with 6 to 8 people dying on the mountain each year. [1] Preparation before you go and following the right advice is essential.
Altitude sickness is often referred to as acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the body’s reaction to decreases in pressure at high altitude. High altitude is classed as heights over 2.500 metres. The decrease in pressure means you take in less oxygen and this can make it more difficult to breath.
There are three forms of altitude sickness:
Although AMS can be uncomfortable, if your symptoms are recognised quickly and the right advice is followed, it usually does not cause serious problems.
Symptoms of AMS appear 6 to 12 hours after you climb to high altitude, although it can take up to 24 hours to develop. Symptoms include: headaches, sleep disturbance, tiredness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and upset stomachs.
If you get any of these symptoms you should not climb any higher. If after 24 hours your symptoms have not improved, you should go down to a lower altitude to let your body adjust. If you get symptoms of AMS you should take this as a warning sign that you may develop more serious altitude sickness called high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE).10% of people with AMS will develop HACE. [2]
Symptoms of HACE include: confusion, exhaustion and loss of muscle co-ordination.
High altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) is when fluid builds up in the lungs and is also very dangerous. HAPE symptoms normally develop 2- 4 days after arrival at high altitudes above 2,500 metres and include: breathlessness, cough, bubbling sounds in the chest and pink spit. HAPE can develop even if you have not had symptoms of AMS.
Both HACE and HAPE can develop very quickly and can be fatal within hours. If you develop symptoms of HACE or HAPE you need urgent medical attention and should go down to a lower elevation immediately.
It is difficult to predict who will get AMS; being physically fit does not prevent it. If you have previously had AMS you may get it again.
Follow the 3 golden rules. [3]:
Reduce your risk by:
If you rest and do not climb any higher symptoms of AMS usually improve in a few hours or days. Taking over the counter medication such as paracetamol may help with headaches. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of clear fluids and avoid alcohol. If you do develop AMS make sure you do not venture off on your own as you could develop more serious symptoms at any time.
Acetazolamide (Diamox®) can be prescribed to try and prevent AMS. Diamox reduces the headache of AMS and increases blood oxygenation at high altitude by altering the body’s acid- base balance. Diamox should be taken 24 hours before arrival at high altitude and for the first 3 days at altitude. A trial dose is recommended before travel.
Sussex Travel Clinic can prescribed Diamox – call 01273 749100 to book an appointment or book ONLINE
References
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