Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
Spread via the bite of the tsetse fly. It causes a headache, fever and eventually coma.
There's an effective treatment.
TAPE WORMS
These parasites are relatively common in Ethiopia and the Horn. Eating Ethiopian traditional food like
kitfo
and
tere sega
(raw meat dishes) in rural areas is usually the cause. Consider having your stool tested when you get
home to avoid future health problems.
Typhoid
This is spread through food or water contaminated by infected human faeces. The first
symptom is usually a fever or a pink rash on the abdomen. Sometimes septicaemia (blood
poisoning) can occur. A typhoid vaccine (typhim Vi, typherix) will give protection for
three years. In some countries, the oral vaccine Vivotif is also available. Antibiotics are
usually given as treatment, and death is rare unless septicaemia occurs.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is spread by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms range from a flu-like illness to
severe hepatitis (liver inflammation), jaundice and death. The yellow-fever vaccination
must be given at a designated clinic and is valid for 10 years. It's a live vaccine and must
not be given to immunocompromised or pregnant travellers.
Travellers must carry a certificate as evidence of vaccination to obtain a visa for
Ethiopia. You may also have to present it at immigration upon arrival. There's always the
possibility that a traveller without a legally required, up-to-date certificate will be vaccin-
ated and detained in isolation at the port of arrival for up to 10 days or possibly repatri-
ated.
Travellers' Diarrhoea
Although it's not inevitable that you'll get diarrhoea while travelling in the Horn, it's cer-
tainly very likely. Diarrhoea is the most common travel-related illness: figures suggest
