Travel Health: Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are reccommended for all
travellers. Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria
are prevalent in Brazil. Insect repellent and protective clothing
is essential. Malaria exists below 2,953ft (900m) in most rural
areas, and outbreaks of dengue fever occur frequently. A yellow
fever vaccination is recommended for those travelling to rural
areas and other parts of the country as a yellow fever outbreak
occurred at the beginning of 2008. Visitors travelling from
infected areas outside the country require a yellow fever
certificate. Chagas disease, caused by a parasite, is widespread in
rural areas of Brazil. Until recently infection was believed to be
from insect bites only, but an outbreak in March 2005 caused three
deaths in Santa Catarina and was traced to the ingestion of sugar
cane juice contaminated with the faeces of vector insects, and
further cases were linked to the ingestion of bacaba wine from
roadside stalls; visitors are advised to seek medical advice
urgently if any of the symptoms occur (fever, nausea, muscle aches
and pains and/or swelling at the site of the insect bite). Tap
water is heavily treated resulting in a strong chemical taste;
bottled water is, however, freely available for drinking purposes.
Typhoid vaccinations are reccommended if travellers intend to spend
a lot of time outside of major cities. Milk in rural areas is not
pasteurised. Travellers are advised to take along medication for
travellers' diarrhoea. Hospitals in the major cities are fairly
good, but most doctors will want cash payment, even for travellers
with insurance.
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