Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Typhoid
and
cholera
are infections spread by food and water that have been contaminated
by bacteria from another infected person, typically in localized epidemics. Typhoid fever is
the more common of the two, with symptoms usually appearing up to three weeks after ex-
posure. They start with extreme fatigue, fever and headaches, with some people also suffer-
ingfromconstipationordiarrhoea.Travellershavealowerriskofcontractingcholera,which
begins with a sudden but painless onset of watery diarrhoea, later combined with vomiting,
nausea and muscle cramps. Rapid and severe dehydration, rather than the infection itself, is
the main danger, and patients should be treated with constant oral rehydration solutions.
Japanese encephalitis
and
rabies
are both zoonoses - animal diseases that can spread to
humans. Those living and working in rural areas in close proximity to farm animals are at
particular risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis from mosquitoes that have bitten infected
livestock. Rabies spreads to humans through the saliva of infected mammals, typically from
feral dogs, as well as monkeys and bats, although all mammals are at risk. Both Japanese en-
cephalitis and rabies can be fatal.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is only required to enter Myanmar if you are travel-
ling from a region where the disease is endemic (i.e. parts of Africa or South America) or if
youhave been inairport transit insuchanarea formore than twelve hours.Formore inform-
ation visit
who.int/yellowfever
.
Diarrhoea
The most common health hazard for visitors to Myanmar is
travellers' diarrhoea
, usually
a mild form while your stomach gets used to the unfamiliar food and drink. In more serious
cases, diarrhoea is accompanied by stomach cramps and vomiting, indicating
food poison-
ing
.Inbothcases,getplentyofrest,drinklotsofwateranduse
oralrehydrationsalts
(ORS)
toreplacelostfluids-thisisparticularlyimportantwhentreatingyoungchildren.Takeafew
sachets of ORS with you, or make your own by mixing half a teaspoon of salt and three of
sugar to a litre of bottled water.
While you're suffering from diarrhoea, avoid spicy and greasy foods, milk, coffee and most
fruit in favour of plain rice, bananas and clear, bland soup. If symptoms persist, or if you
notice blood and mucus in your stools, consult a doctor as you may have
dysentery
, which
requires medication to cure.
Toavoidupsetstomachs,eatatplacesthatlookbusyandclean,andstick-asfaraspossible
- to fresh, thoroughly cooked food and only eat fruit that you have peeled yourself. Drink
boiledorbottledwater
and hot drinks, and avoid untreated tap water. Ice is generally made
with treated water in dedicated ice factories, but may not be transported or handled hygienic-
ally-travellerswithsensitivestomachsmaywanttoavoidicecreamandicecubesindrinks.
