Health - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 1067

Consequences Can be very severe in people over the age of 65 or in those with underlying medical condi-
tions such as heart disease or diabetes
Treatment Rest and paracetamol
Prevention Vaccination recommended for at-risk individuals
Japanese B Encephalitis
Risk All countries, but highest in Thailand and Vietnam; rare in travellers but infects at least 50,000 locals
each year, mostly in rural areas
Cause Mosquito-borne
Treatment No treatment
Consequences A third of infected people will die while another third will suffer permanent brain damage
Prevention Vaccination recommended for travellers spending more than one month outside of cities
Malaria
Risk All countries, mainly in rural areas
Cause Mosquito-borne parasite
Symptoms Fever; headache, diarrhoea, cough or chills may also occur; diagnosis can only be made by tak-
ing a blood sample
Prevention Two-pronged strategy: mosquito avoidance and antimalarial medications