Basics - Rough Guide to Fiji - page 45

No vaccinations are required to enter Fiji unless you are coming from a yellow fever area, in
which case you need to have an International Health Certificate indicating that you have been
immunized against yellow fever sometime in the past ten years. Vaccination against Hepatitis
A is often recommended by independent medical advisories. Isolated outbreaks of typhoid
have occurred on Vanua Levu in recent years during the wet season.
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is a serious and sometimes fatal condition that can result from long periods of
exposure to high temperatures and high humidity. The wisest approach is to always wear a
high SPF sunscreen (over 35), even in cloudy weather, not forgetting your lips, ears, feet
and back; wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses; drink plenty of water , generally a litre
every two hours, bearing in mind that room-temperature water is better for you in the tropics
and that drinking alcohol is going to add to your dehydration; and cover up when out snor-
kelling by wearing a T-shirt to protect your back, still with sun cream on, and wear a long-
sleeve shirt with a collar when out walking. Better still, stay in the shade.
Symptoms of heat stroke include nausea and general discomfort, fatigue, a high body tem-
perature, severe headache, disorientation and/or little or no perspiration despite the heat.
Eventually the sufferer can become delirious and fall into convulsions, and rapid medical
treatment is essential. First aid is to seek shade, remove the victim's clothing, wrap them in a
cool, wet sheet or towels and fan around them.
Drinking water
Although urban tap water is filtered, chlorinated and safe to drink, travellers with sensitive
stomachs should consider boiling it first or buying bottled water, especially after heavy rains
when tap water can appear murky. In rural Viti Levu and the outer islands water is mostly
sourced from natural springs which may appear extremely pure but can cause upset stomachs
- most travellers are encouraged to buy bottled water or drink rain water which is usually
supplied to guests free of charge from large tanks and which is less likely to be contaminated.
Drinking from a pristine stream whilst out walking in the forests might be tempting but it's
not recommended as water-borne diseases such as bilharzia and leptospirosis can be present.
Bites and stings
Mosquitoes can easily spoil an otherwise perfect evening under the stars. They are most
widespread during the wet season from December to April, although even during these times
you may not be bothered by them. Most resorts spray gardens to keep mosquitoes at bay, but
in less-developed parts of the islands they can be voracious, almost unbearable at dusk and
dawn when it may be wise to stay indoors or sit by the sea, preferably facing a stiff wind.
Most resorts have well-screened windows, but if these are not present, a mosquito net and/
or mosquito repellent should be used. Mosquito nets are quite romantic to sleep under but do