Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
that afflicts travellers to Asia and can last for months and can also lead to chronic illness. He-
patitis A is transmitted via contaminated food and water or saliva. Hepatitis B is more serious
and is transmitted via sexual contact or by contaminated blood, needles or syringes, which
means that medical treatment itself can pose a risk if sterilization procedures are not up to
scratch.
Malaria
Both Bali and Lombok are within
malarial zones
. Information regarding the prevalence, pre-
vention and treatment of malaria is being constantly updated so you must seek medical advice
at least a couple of weeks before you travel. Current advice suggests that there is little risk
of malaria in the major resorts on Bali but be sure to let your health adviser know if you're
visiting other parts of Indonesia or Asia, even if only in transit. The latest information shows
an increase in the most serious form of malaria across Asia and there are reports of resistance
to certain drug treatments by some strains. Pregnant women and children need specialist ad-
vice.
Malaria, which can be fatal, is passed into humans in mosquito bites (one is all it takes).
The appropriate prophylactic drug depends on your destination but all are taken to a strict
timetable beginning before you enter the malarious area and continuing after leaving. If you
don't follow instructions precisely, you're in danger of developing the illness. The symptoms
are fever, headache and shivering, similar to a severe dose of flu and often coming in cycles,
but a lot of people have additional symptoms. Don't delay seeking help: malaria progresses
quickly. If you develop flu-like symptoms at any time up to a year after returning home, you
should inform a doctor of your travels and ask for a blood test.
However, none of the antimalarial drugs are a hundred percent effective and it is vital to try
to stop the mosquitoes biting you: sleep under a
mosquito net
- preferably one impregnated
with an insecticide especially suited to the task - burn mosquito coils, and use
repellent
on
exposed skin. The most powerful repellents should be brought from home; DEET is effective
but can be an irritant and natural alternatives are available containing citronella, eucalyptus
oil or neem oil.
Dengue fever
Another reason to avoid mosquito bites is
dengue fever
, caused by a virus carried by a dif-
ferent species of mosquito, which bites during the day. There is no vaccine or tablet available
to prevent the illness - which causes fever, headache and joint and muscle pains among the
least serious symptoms, and internal bleeding and circulatory system failure among the most
serious - and no specific drug to cure it. Outbreaks occur across Indonesia throughout the
year. It is vital to get an early medical diagnosis and obtain treatment to relieve symptoms.
