Typhoid Fever
When ingested, the bacteria which give rise to typhoid fever, pass through the intestine wall and cause a high fever which may progress to coma. An injected vaccine is available which is boosted every 3 years. Vaccination is generally less important for short stay travellers staying in good accommodation (which is the case of travellers travelling with Bolivian Experience tours
Tetanus
This serious bacterial disease is usually contracted following contamination of wounds (especially deep puncture wounds). The inactivated vaccine is boosted every 10 years. After 5 doses, routine boosters are no longer required but travellers to areas with poor medical facilities should be "in date".
Rabies
South America is full of seemingly homeless dogs, which sometimes travel in large packs, these are normally harmless, but it is better to be safe then sorry. Rabies is transmitted via the saliva of infected animals. Human rabies usually results from dog bites but many animals can be infected and a scratch or a lick may be sufficient to transmit the disease. Rabies is invariably fatal once symptoms begin. Modern vaccines are highly purified and very effective.
 |
|---|
 |