Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are a great way to stay in touch with friends and family whilst you are travelling.

Sussex Travel Clinic invites you to like our Facebook page so that you can keep up to date with all our news on your travels. We regularly post updates and will keep you informed of any important news that may affect you when you are travelling.

Every month we will be selecting 1 new LIKE at random to win £25 worth of travel products. Choose form our fantastic range of mosquito nets, insect repellents, travel first aid kits and more.

Sussex Travel Clinic | Promote Your Page Too

A 50 year old woman has died of rabies following a dog bite whilst on holiday in Goa, India. The lady, of Indian origin, did not have pre- exposure rabies vaccinations before travel and did not seek any medical advice for 2 months after the dog bite. Unfortunately, the woman who did not present to the medical profession until symptoms of rabies had appeared was at first turned away from A & E at a Kent hospital. A spokesman for the hospital  said that as the UK is rabies-free, if a patient went to a hospital with vague symptoms, a doctor was unlikely to consider rabies as a diagnosis unless the patient highlighted wild animal contact in an at-risk country. “The hospital responded to the information supplied by the patient at the time,” he said.

The UK is rabies free; however, travelling to an area of high risk can pose a risk. In the last 10 years there have been four cases of imported rabies:

1. 2001 – Nigeria – a visitor from Nigeria died after a dog bite overseas five months previously.
2. 2001- Philippines- a traveller died who had contracted rabies whilst on holiday in the Philippines.
3. 2005- India – a traveller died after being bitten by a puppy on a 2 week holiday in Goa.
4. 2008- South Africa – a UK traveller died after being bitten whilst working in an animal sanctuary.

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a virus found in the salvia of an infected animal and is transmitted from the bite or scratch of an infected domestic or wild animal. Dog bites account for 99% of human rabies deaths. Initial symptoms of rabies include fever, pain and tingling at the wound site. As the virus spread through the nervous system inflammation of the brain and spinal cord occurs. Rabies is always fatal. The incubation period is usually 1-3 months, but can be from as little as 1 week up to 1 year.

Rabies is present in 150 countries worldwide and it is estimated that 55,000 people die from rabies every year.

Advice for Travellers

There is a very effective vaccine that can protect you against rabies. The vaccine should be given before you travel. Three doses of vaccine are required on days 0, 7 and 21 or 28. In the event of a bite or scratch you will need to seek medical advice and get two more top up vaccines.

If you have not had any rabies vaccine before you travel and you get bitten by an animal you will need to seek immediate medical treatment. In this instance you will need to receive a full course of rabies vaccine and a treatment called rabies immune globulin (RIG). RIG is a blood product and is not readily available in many countries, so if you are at risk it is recommended that you receive pre -exposure rabies vaccines before travel.

Am I at risk?

Your nurse will do an assessment to see if you need for pre-exposure rabies vaccine.

Assessment includes:

• The incidence of rabies in the countries you are travelling to.
• The availability and quality of rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin (RIG).
• The planned activities you may be doing on your trip..
• The length of stay in a risk country.
• The possibility of unrecognised or unreported exposure (e.g. young children).

Rabies pre-exposure vaccine should generally be given to adults and children who are at risk of rabies. These include:

• If you are  travelling to remote areas where medical care is not readily available
• If you are undertaking higher risk activities (e.g. cycling, running)
• If you are travelling for long periods through rabies risk countries
• If you are at occupational risk e.g. vets, animal handlers, and laboratory workers who handle the virus.

 

To book an appointment for a rabies vaccine please call 01273 749100 or book online

 

References

1. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/
2. http://www.promedmail.org/
3. http://www.nathnac.org/pro/factsheets/rabies.htm#indications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have ever had chicken pox you are at risk of getting shingles. The chicken pox virus stays in your system and can resurface as shingles later in life. The main symptoms are a painful rash that blisters and then scabs. Postherpetic neuralgia can occur after you have had shingles. This is nerve pain that can last for three months or more after the rash has gone.

In the UK it is estimated that about 3 people in every 1,000 have shingles in  every year. Although shingles can occur at any age it is more common over the age of 50 years. In those aged 80 years and over the incidence of getting shingles increases to about 11 people in 1,000 per year.

Vaccination

Zostavax is a vaccination that can reduce your risk of getting shingles. It is licensed for use in those aged 50 years and over. You can have the vaccine even if you have not had chicken pox.

You should not have the vaccine if:

• you are allergic to any of its ingredients, including gelatin or neomycin.
• you have a weakened immune system or take high doses of steroids.
• if are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• you should not get ZOSTAVAX to prevent chickenpox.
• Tell your nurse if you have had a vaccine against pneumonia in the last 4 weeks. It is best to have these 4 weeks apart.

Further Information

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Shingles/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.zostavax.com/

 

 

Blood borne infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C are found worldwide, however, some countries have higher levels of infection. Blood borne infections are spread through  any activity causing contact with blood or body fluids. These include:

• Unprotected sexual intercourse
• Medical treatment with contaminated equipment
• Activities that pierce the skin such as tattoos, acupuncture or  body piercings.
• Contact sports such as rugby or boxing. This increase risk of contact with bodily fluids from an infected person.
• Occupational exposure- health care workers are particularly at risk.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B(HBV) is a virus that can damage your liver and cause serious health problems.  This potentially fatal virus is spread the same way as HIV but it is 100 times more infectious. 350 million people are believed to be infected worldwide. .[1].   Thankfully, hepatitis b can be prevented through vaccination. If you are travelling to a high risk country you should consider a course of hepatitis b vaccine.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C (HCV) is similar to HBV in that it can be fatal and cause liver damage or serious health problems. HVC is found worldwide but is more common in Africa, Asia and South America. 3% of the world population are believed to be infected. .[2].   There is no vaccine to protect against HCV.

HIV

HIV infection occurs anywhere in the world. At the end of 2007 it was estimated that 33.2   million  persons were living with HIV infection  worldwide.[3].   Prevalence is highest in  Africa, South and South East Asia, and   Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 2001 and 2005,  41% of new diagnosis in UK citizens were aquired abroad. Highest risk countries were in Africa and Thailand.

Advice for Travellers

• Practice safe sex – always use a condom and buy an adequate supply for your trip. Make sure condoms carry the
• Avoid tattoos or body piercings in foreign countries
• Carry a sterile medical kit with needles and syringes in if you are travelling to high risk areas
• Have a course of hepatitis b vaccine before your trip
• Consider joining the Blood Care Foundation – they can arrange screened blood worldwide for use in an emergency
• Find out your blood group before travel

To book a hepatitis b vaccine or purchase a sterile medical kit call 01273 749100 or book online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sussex Travel Clinic now has injectable typhoid vaccine back in stock. Over the past few months there have been supply problems with injectable typhoid vaccine in the UK. Manufacturers Sanofi Pasteur have now confirmed that injectable typhoid vaccine is now available.

During the time that injectable typhoid vaccine was not available Sussex Travel Clinic offered the oral typhoid vaccine to travellers that needed protection. The clinic now has adequate supplies of both the oral and injectable vaccines. Oral typhoid vaccine is taken in tablet form over a period of five days and is ideal for those that are needle phobic.

To discuss further please call the clinic on 01273 749100 or book an appointment online.

The team at Sussex Travel Clinic would like to wish all our customers a Happy Easter.

The clinic will be closed on the following days over the Easter period:

Good Friday 6th April – Closed

Saturday 7th April – 10- 1 pm

Easter Sunday 8th April – Closed

Bank Holiday Monday – 9th April – Closed

You can still book an appointment over the break by using our online booking system or call us on our return on Tuesday 10th April on 01273 749100.

Our sister site World Wide Nets is having an Easter sale so if you need to stock up on travel products for your trip abroad now is the time to take advantage of our 10% discount offer. Simply enter the code EASTER12 at the checkout to get your discount.

 

Over the past 3 years there have been a large number of outbreaks of pertussis in Australia. In 2011 37,880 cases were reported, an increase of more than 3000 from those reported in 2010.  In 2011 most cases have occurred in four states:New South Wales(12,930),Queensland(8,819),Victoria(8,568) andWestern Australia(3,763). [1]. The Western Australian Health Authority is warning that the state may be facing an epidemic.

 

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella Pertussis. Transmission is through the respiratory route and symptoms include: severe coughing spells, breathing difficulties, vomiting and sleep disturbance.

Sussex Travel Clinic has been having some enquiries from concerned travellers who are concerned either because of risk of contracting pertussis themselves or because, if infected, they may put young children at risk. (e.g. grandparents visiting new grandchildren who are not  yet vaccinated)

In the UK children under the age of 10 are routinely immunised against pertussis. Adults and those over the age of 10 are not routinely offered boosters, although some countries, Australia included, do offer a booster dose to adolescence as part of their immunisation programme.

Immunity following infection or vaccination against pertussis wanes over time and there is no test to check immunity.

Advice for Travellers

•  Evidence of immunisation against pertussis is not an entry requirement forAustralia
• If you are travelling with children make sure that they are up to date with all of their routineUKimmunisations.
• If you are going to do medical work inAustraliayou may be required to produce evidence of pertussis immunisation- speak to your employer before you travel.
• If you are likely to have close contact with children less than 12 months of age and you are not immune practice routine respiratory precautions such as good hand hygiene and avoiding persons known to be infected.
• Adult boosters of pertussis vaccine are not recommended for theUK. [2]. If you are planning a long stay trip to risk areas you should consider receiving a pertussis-containing vaccine formulated for adults and adolescents at your destination.

To discuss this further please call our nurses on 01273 749100.

References

1. http://www.nathnac.org/pro/clinical_updates/pertussis_au_130112.htm
2. http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/australasia–pacific/australia.aspx

Sussex Travel Clinic carried out our annual client survey during February 2012.

Here are the results.

Over a 2 week  period 68% of all clients seen  completed a survey form.

100% of our clients would recommend our service to a friend.

87% rated the expertise of our staff as excellent.

86% rated the overall service as excellent.

 

 What can we do to improve our service?

 1 client said they found it difficult to get through on the telephone.

 Our response.

Our phones lines are answered during the following times:  Monday to Friday 9 am till 5 pm and till 7 pm on a Monday and Thursday, 10 – 1 pm on a Saturday. Unfortunately, during our busy periods it may be difficult to get through. To address this Sussex Travel Clinic now offers an online booking service and hopes that this will reduce the amount of call volume through the clinic.

 Comments

 ‘ Very efficient staff, no complaints’

 ‘ Very kind and helpful staff’

 ‘ Very polite and helpful staff’

 ‘ Your service has been extremely useful and supportive re: my travel plans and queries. I cannot think of any improvements’

If you are planning a trip abroad it is a good idea to register with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) LOCATE service. Registraion is simple and free. Your details will be saved so that you can simply log in and change your details for future trips.

The FCO Locate service is for British nationals only. If you are planning on travelling abroad, even for a short trip, register your details so that in the event of an emergency such as a terrorist attack or tsunami, British embassy staff will be better equipped to offer you assistance.

Benefits of registering with LOCATE?

• in the event of  a major catastrophe the FCO will have an instant record of your details. They will be able to make contact and offer assistance.
• if  your family and friends need to get in touch with you , FCO can help them to find you.
• the simple registration process means it only takes a few minutes to register your travel or residence information  and the local British Embassy will know you are coming. You do not need to contact embassies directly.
• you only need to register once. Any future trips can then be updated by logging in to your account. You can register planned trips up to a year ahead of travel.
• LOCATE improves the FCO’s ability to provide help in an emergency and reduce delay and worry in times of stress for family and friends at home.

Before you travel.

When planning a trip abroad it is important to plan so that you have a safe and healthy trip. Things to consider include:

• Make sure you have had any necessary vaccinations.
• Make sure you have malaria tablets if they are required for your trip.
• Don’t travel without insurance and make sure it covers you for all activites you wish to do on your trip.
• Get any VISA’s that may be requied for the countries you plan to visit.
• Check that you passport is in date. Some countires require that your passport is valid for six months after the date of travel.
• Make a note or a secure online copy of your passport number and any other important documents.
• Driving abroad- make sure you take your driving license and make yourself aware of any driving laws in the country you are visiting.

To book travel vaccinations or discuss malaria requirements call 01273 749100 or book online.