Vaccinations
Vaccination information is detailed below however we recommended that you call for up to date information and to book an appointment.
Malaria
Malaria is an illness caused by a parasite that is transmitted by the bite of certain mosquitoes. The risk of malaria depends on the traveller's itinerary, the duration of travel, and the place where the traveller will spend the evenings and nights. These factors will be assessed during your consultation.
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Typhoid
Typhoid is caused by bacteria called Salmonella Typhi. Illness is usually characterised by fever, loss of appetite, lethargy and change in bowel habit. Constipation is common, but diarrhoea can also occur. Without treatment the illness can be fatal, with perforation of the gut producing peritonitis or severe bleeding. Transmission is by ingesting contaminated food and water. Contamination is most likely when cooked food is handled or left unrefrigerated.
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Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is viral disease which is frequently found throughout the developing world and tropical areas. It is spread by poor hygiene from person to person, or by contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water, or from fruits, vegetable or other foods which are eaten uncooked, which may be become contaminated during handling.
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Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection. Symptoms are loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed within a few days by jaundice. The course of illness is usually 4 weeks, and rarely, it can be fatal. About 5% of adults remains carriers after acute infection, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer after 15-20 years. Children under 1 year of age usually have no symptoms, but virtually 100% will become chronic carriers.
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Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a mosquito-spread viral disease that exists in some parts of Africa and South America. The disease has a fatality rate of 60%. The symptoms include fever, vomiting, jaundice and kidney disease. Yellow fever is a very rare cause of illness in travellers, however preventive measures must be carried out.
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Japanese Encephalitis
This is a virus infection that causes a severe flu-like illness with prominent headache, neck stiffness, confusion and coma. Death rates may be up to 30% or higher and long term brain damage is common. It is spread mostly in rural area where conditions favour breeding of mosquito that carries the virus.
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Meningitis
Meningitis is an infection of the brain that is spread from person to person via respiratory transmission.
It occurs in all countries but is particularly a risk in sub-Sahara Africa, Northern India and Nepal, Brazil, Chile and Mongolia. There may be epidemics from time to time in other areas and your travel doctor will advise you of these. Meningitis has a high fatality rate, but is largely prevented by vaccination.
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Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by a special species of mosquito. It causes a severe flu-like illness with sudden onset of fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain. Rash can also develop 3 to 5 days after the fever.
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Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is an infection due to a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The symptoms includes fever, night sweats, lethargy, cough with blood stained sputum and weight loss. Sometimes, it causes no symptoms and can only be detected by investigation like chest x-ray. To become infected, one would have to spend a long time in a closed environment where the air was contaminated by an infected person who is coughing out the bacteria.
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Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease of animals which may be transmitted to humans through bites from the saliva of the infected animals, usually dogs, cats or monkeys. In humans the disease is almost 100% fatal.
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
This is a condition where clots of blood form in the deep veins of the calves. These clots can then spread to the lungs, which may be fatal. The risk is predominantly on long- sector flights (eg. Melbourne-London).
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Cholera
It is a bacterial infection that causes painless but profuse watery diarrhoea which rapidly leads to dehydration. Vomiting and leg cramps may also occur. The symptoms are usually mild. But profuse diarrhoea can lead to death if not treated promptly.
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