Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Heat and dehydration
clinic
is usually by donation, and treatment at a
public hospital (such as Belize City's Karl Heusner
Memorial Hospital, see p.58) will usually incur a small
charge and entail a long wait.
Private doctors
and
clinics set their own (much higher) fees, but waits
are minimal and facilities generally better (see p.58).
Pharmacists are knowledgeable and helpful, and
sometimes provide drugs only available by prescrip-
tion at home; most towns have at least one
pharmacy.
Herbal remedies
are also quite popular
in Belize, and if you have confidence in alternative
medicine, seek advice from a respected practitioner;
most pharmacies can direct you.
Whether you're a frequent traveller or this is your
first trip to the tropics, check the listings below to
find the latest travel health advice from the most
reliable providers. By far the best source for a
comprehensive assessment of health risks is the
website of the
Centers for Disease Control
(
CDC
)
in the US; no matter where you live, check here first.
Another common cause of discomfort - and even
illness - is
the sun
. The best advice is to build up
exposure gradually, use a strong sunscreen and, if
you're walking around during the day, wear a hat
and stay in the shade. Be aware that overheating
can cause
heatstroke
, which is potentially fatal.
Signs are a very high body temperature without a
feeling of fever, accompanied by headaches and
disorientation. Lowering body temperature (with a
tepid shower, cool drinks or a fan, for example) is
the first step in treatment.
Avoid dehydration
by
taking plenty of fluids, especially water.
Bites and stings
Aside from malaria-carrying mosquitoes, there are
several other biting insects (and other animals)
whose nips could leave you in varying degrees of
discomfort.
Sandflies
, often present on beaches,
are tiny, but their bites, usually on feet and ankles,
itch like hell and last for days - antihistamine
creams provide some relief.
Scorpions
are common but mostly nocturnal,
avoiding the daytime heat under rocks and in
crevices. Species in Belize can cause a painful sting
but are rarely fatal. You're unlikely to be stung, but if
you camp or sleep in a rustic
cabaña
, shake out
your shoes before putting them on and avoid
wandering around barefoot.
Swimming and snorkelling might bring you into
contact with some potentially dangerous or
venomous sea creatures. Shark attacks are virtually
unknown in Belize;
stingrays
are generally very
gentle creatures, but if you step on one (they rest in
the sand) it will give a very painful sting. Shu
ing
your feet in shallow water gives them warning that
you are approaching. The Portuguese man-o'-war
jellyfish
, with its purple, bag-like sail, has very long
tentacles with stinging cells that inflict raw, red
welts; equally painful is a brush against
fire coral
. In
both cases, clean the wound with vinegar or iodine
and seek medical help if the pain persists or
infection develops. For advice on mammal bites,
read the information on rabies (see p.29).
MEDICAL RESOURCES FOR TRAVELLERS
Canadian Society for International Health
Canada
T
613 241
5785,
W
csih.org. Extensive list of travel health centres.
CDC
US
T
800 232 4636,
W
cdc.gov/travel. O
cial US government
travel health site.
Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic
UK
T
0845 155
5000,
T
020 7388 9600 (Travel Clinic),
W
thehtd.org.
International Society for Travel Medicine
US
T
770 736 7060,
W
istm.org. Has a full list of travel health clinics.
MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad)
UK
T
0870 606 2782,
W
masta-travel-health.com. Check the website
for travel advisories, advice and nearest clinics.
The Travel Doctor - TMVC
Australia
T
300 658 844,
W
tmvc
.com.au. Lists travel clinics in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Tropical Medical Bureau
Ireland
T
1850 487 674,
W
tmb.ie.
The media
Belize, with its English-language media,
can come as a welcome break in a region
of Spanish-speakers. You'll find it easy to
keep up with both local and interna-
tional news here, with daily national
newspapers and plenty of lively TV and
radio shows covering current affairs.
Getting medical help
Doctors
in Belize have received training abroad,
usually in the US, Mexico or Cuba; your embassy
keeps a list of recommended specialists. Care is split
between the public and private healthcare systems,
both open to travellers. A visit to a
local public
Newspapers and magazines
Major
newspapers
include
The Amandala
,
The
Belize Times
,
The Guardian
(no relation to the UK
broadsheet) and
The Reporter. The Belize Times
is the
o
cial organ of the ruling People's United Party
