There are countless things to remember when planning a trip to Africa; don’t forget to plan for good health as well. Follow these Top Ten health tips to ensure your trip to Africa is memorable in nothing but the best ways.

1. Get the Proper Travel Vaccines
You may well need travel immunizations for your trip to Africa. Diseases that are uncommon in the United States, such as yellow fever, are endemic in much of the African continent. A visit with a travel health specialist will ensure you are up-to-date on all recommended and required vaccines.

2. Bring Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
Access to pharmaceuticals, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, is much different in Africa than in the United States. Be sure to pack a sufficient amount of your medications in your carry-on bag. Keep a written list of your medications as well as your physician and home pharmacy’s contact information with you.

3. Malaria Awareness
Your travel health specialist may prescribe anti-malarial medication for you to bring on your trip. It is of utmost importance that you take the medication as recommended. Bring a mosquito net if your travels will have you staying in open-air accommodations. Use insect repellents, and pack pants and long sleeved pajamas to further protect yourself from insect bites.

4. Sunscreen
Africa’s equatorial location means intense exposure to the sun. Without adequate protection, you could experience painful sunburn. Bring plenty of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.

5. Water Borne Illness
The safety of the water supply in Africa is different from what you may be used to at home. Intestinal infections are a common result of drinking contaminated water or eating foods that have been exposed to contaminated water. Be sure to drink only bottled, distilled, or treated water during your travels. Pack anti-diarrheal medication as well as oral rehydration packets should you develop an intestinal illness.

6. HIV and AIDS
HIV and AIDS are serious public health concerns in many Africa countries. Be smart, and avoid risky activities.

7. Protect Your Feet
Bring sandals to wear in the shower to protect yourself from fungal infections and parasitic infections. A pair of inexpensive flip flops will do the job. If you are planning on hiking and trekking, pack comfortable, sturdy walking shoes so sore feet do not cut your explorations short.

8. Protect Your Safety
Scams and pickpockets are not uncommon experiences in Africa. Take steps to protect yourself from credit card fraud and theft. Take care with how much cash you carry on your person at any time. If staying in a hotel, leave valuables in the hotel safe, or, better yet, do not bring them at all. Keep a low profile so as to not attract an undue amount of attention to yourself. Be aware of your surroundings, avoid unsavory parts of cities, and travel with a companion whenever possible.

9. Be Prepared for Jet Lag
After hours on the plane and arriving to a different time zone, you are likely to experience jet lag. Leave time in your travel schedule to allow your body to rest and adjust to your new surroundings.

10. Pack a First Aid Kit
Bring first aid essentials that may not be available in your destination such as a digital thermometer, latex gloves, bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, hydrocortisone, lip balm, tweezers, and iodine wipes or alcohol swabs. You will be prepared for any situation!

For more Africa-specific travel tips and news, please visit the Africa Travel Association’s website, and be sure to sign up for their newsletter! Passport Health is proud to be the digital marketing partner of choice for the ATA.

With the whooping cough outbreak in the US showing few signs of abating, a recent study suggesting that the Tdap vaccine is safe for older adults provides some welcome relief.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a serious disease that can cause death, particularly among infants younger than 3 months of age. As a result, it is very important that those who have close contact with infants receive an appropriate pertussis vaccine.  2012 has seen increased rates of the disease in 49 states and Washington, D.C., making it even more crucial to protect the very young, who are often exposed to whooping cough via contact with un-vaccinated grandparents.

Study of over 119,000 adults ages 65 and over

A recent study, headed by Hung Fe Tseng and his colleagues from Kaiser Permanente Southern California, analyzed information from 119,573 adults aged 65 and over who had received the Tdap vaccine (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) between 2006 and 2010. As a point of comparison, the study also looked at a similar number of senior adults who had received the Td vaccine (tetanus-diphtheria) during that same period.

In the past, there was not sufficient information to document the effects the vaccine has on older adults, leading to concerns that a number of health issues and allergic reactions could arise.

No increased signs of risk seen

The new study found, however, that the group that received the Tdap vaccine had no increased risks of suffering these adverse effects compared to those who had received the Td vaccine, leading the study authors to conclude that no one vaccine was safer than the other.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults under age 65, subject to individual medical considerations, receive the pertussis vaccine in order to protect themselves and especially their young family members.  So far there have been 16 pertussis-related deaths in 2012, the majority of which were in infants under 3 months. As more studies are conducted on the safety and efficacy of the pertussis vaccine for older adults, hopefully vaccination levels across all age groups will rise, and mortality rates will fall.