|
Recommendations for Travelers going to Mexico 2007-8 Winter.
Winter Travelers staying for a short visit 1-2 weeks inside a destination
resort should consider the following:
Tetanus Diphtheria (Td) should be up to date and given every
10 yrs.
Hepatitis A vaccine is also strongly recommended. Hepatitis
A is acquired from contaminated food or water and can make people
very sick. The vaccine gives protection for 12 months. A second
dose, which must be given no sooner than 6 months, will boost this
protection to at least 10-20 yrs possibly lifetime.
Hepatitis B is a different virus also causing hepatitis although
it is acquired through blood and body fluids. It is more common,
easier to catch and kills more people than HIV.
Risk factors for Hepatitis B include: contact with bodily fluids,
unclean needles, unprotected sex (although even condoms do not reduce
the risk to zero), IV drugs, and blood transfusions. People who
will be staying longer than 6 months in countries where Hepatitis
B is very high are also recommended to have this vaccine. Hepatitis
B should be given in 2 full doses one month apart with a booster
dose after 6 months.
All the different brands of Hepatitis A and B are equally effective.
Some people prefer the pre mixed vaccine of Twinrex but if they
use this one they must receive 2 full doses to be adequately protected
against either Hep A or B.
Typhoid is more common in Mexico than in other Caribbean
countries and should be considered for longer stays and especially
off the beaten path travels.
Two types of vaccines are used:
1) Injectable Typhoid (Typherix or Typhim Vi) is good for 3 years.
2) Oral typhoid (Ty21a) is 4-vaccine capsules, which are taken on
days 0,2,4, and 6. Antibiotics and alcohol interfere with the vaccine.
This vaccine gives 7 years of coverage.
Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted by daytime biting
mosquitoes. At present there is no good vaccination or treatment.
Many parts of Mexico may have dengue. We recommend that you check
if the area you are going to has dengue and take appropriate precautions.
We recommend good clothing (light loose fitting and covering the
limbs), DEET 30% applied to exposed skin, and Permethrin insecticide
applied to clothing. Permethrin kills insects on contact but is
safe for people.
Malaria
is a severe parasite transmitted by night biting mosquitoes. Malaria
is not present in common tourist areas but is in many areas of Mexico.
There is malaria in the Quinton province (Maya Riviera) but this
is far removed from resorts and vacationers are not at risk.
Travels may wish to consult our clinic to check if malaria is present
where they will be visiting. If you will be exposed to malaria we
strongly recommend appropriate anti malarial medication, which needs
to be prescribed before your trip. It is necessary to take anti
malarials before exposure. Medication does NOT PREVENT malaria but
prevents severe life threatening malaria from happening. We urge
anyone who has traveled to a malarious area in the past year to
SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF MALARIA IN THEMSELVES REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER THEY TOOK ANTI MALARIALS OR NOT. We do not treat malaria
in our clinic but can make rapid assessments if there is a concern.
Other STDs like HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are present
and travelers should use the same precautions as they do at home.
Traveler's Diarrhea is diarrhea caused during travel by exposure
to bacteria, viruses and parasites, although traveler's diarrhea
is usually referred to the development of extreme symptoms following
a bacteria infection. We recommend of course that people be careful
what they eat but traveler's diarrhea also happens to those who
are careful since they may be infected through another's careless
preparation of food. Pepto-Bismol and Imodium may be taken for mild
symptoms. We prescribe antibiotics to take at the early stages of
traveler's diarrhea. We aim to prevent the loss of fluids and body
salts, which will make one very sick in a tropical environment.
Travelers having diarrhea starting after their trip may have an
intestinal parasite. If you suspect that you may have a parasite
check with our clinic.
The
vaccine, Dukoral gives 20% of protection against traveler's diarrhea
for 3 months.
Department of Foreign Affairs (Mexico Resources)
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico/menu-en.asp
Updated
Feb 6 2006
|