Travel Information - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 38

Avoid prepared food sold by street vendors, and wash all fresh
fruits and vegetables before eating.
Most health-reporting agencies include all Caribbean
islands in one general category without considering the condi-
tions on individual islands. The ABC Islands are more health-
ful than less developed islands, so keep that in mind when you
check the following agencies for information about infection
outbreaks, health concerns, and suggested vaccines:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ,

404-332-4559 (in the US), or internationally at 1-877-394-
8747 (1-877-FLY-TRIP); fax [phone]; www.cdc.gov/
travel.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs , http://travel.state.gov/.
Medical Advisory Services for Travelers Abroad
(MASTA) provide health tips and useful links for minimizing
risks while traveling; www.masta.org.
The World Health Organization , www.who.int/home-page.
Health Canada , www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
The sun here is very strong year-round. Wear a high sun-
protection-factor (SPF) cream containing zinc oxide or titanium
dioxide, sunglasses, and a hat or visor during daylight hours. If
you get burned, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration
and smooth on a coat of cream containing aloe vera. If you feel
dizzy or develop a fever, headache, or nausea, you may have ex-
perienced sunstroke and should seek medical attention.

Mosquitoes are usually kept away by the steady winds, but at
night and on calm days, you may want to use an insect repellent
containing DEET. Some people claim that Avon's Skin-So-Soft
is the best insect repellent, but scientists can't duplicate results
in the lab. Try the non-toxic stuff and decide for yourself. If pre-
cautions don't work and you are bitten, use a product such as
Sting-Eze to relieve the itch.

If you do become ill or injured while here, your country's consular or
embassy office in the Caribbean may be able to assist you. Also, your
health insurer and most major credit card companies can suggest names of
qualified doctors and certified hospitals in the Caribbean.
Citizens of the United States may contact US Consul General, J.B.
Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curaçao, 59-99-461-3066; fax [phone]-

6489.
Canadian citizens may contact the Consulate of Canada, Willemstad,
Curaçao,

59-99-466-1115; fax [phone].