Yellow fever vaccination to South Africa

My husband and I are over 60. We are going on safari to southern Africa in August. Most of the time we will be in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, but we will be in Zambia at Victoria Falls for 2 or 3 days. Do we need to have yellow fever vaccinations? We are going on to England and the EU afterwards.

No, you do not need Yellow Fever vaccination to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. Zambia just removed their requirement and in the 2009 recommendation from the W.H.O. Zambia do no longer require vaccination against Yellow Fever.



Nigeria for 16 days

I am traveling to Nigeria in May this year, i am planning to stay for 16days. Could you please tell me what injections i will need.. and how long before i travel should i get them

You can find our recommendation here:

http://www.traveldoctor.info/trip/result.3.82.1.html

We suggest vaccination against yellow feber, hepatitis A and B. You definetely need malaria prophylaxis, for example with Malarone, Doxycycline or Lariam.



Malaria in Ghana

I am going for a week to Ghana, in February (Accra, and inland). Is it really necessary to take Malarone, if I take normal precautions with clothing? Probably I will go for a more extended period of 3 yrs afterwards, which may be very long to take all this period prophylaxis.
I recall living in Botswana, that all local doctors advised not to take any prophylaxis, since it suppresses the symptoms of malaria, which makes it sometimes harder to recognise and treat it.

There is a much higher malaria risk in Ghana compared to Botswana. We did a survey in Danish travellers to Ghana and 1 per 150 came down with falciparum malaria per months, so you have a high risk.
it is therefore absolutely recommended that you take prophylaxis,and you can chose between Malarone, Lariam and Doxycycline.



Malarone for Ghana

I am working a board a survey ship from Scotland about 16 Nm from the Ivory Coast. We will be here for about 10 days and then travel to Ghana where we will take a bus to go to the airport and come back home. The company is asking as to take Malaria tablets, Malerone.
Being offshore is there still a risk ? Is the mosquito able to fly that kind of distance, so we have to take Malerone even when we are offshore? And the to be only for 10 hours travelling in the private bus to the airport it is necesary to take it?
I hear a lot about the side effects of this drugs.


Malarone is the malaria drugs with the fewest side effects, so that should not be a major concern.
Malaria mosquitoes do not fly out to sea, so you are safe except if the ship has docked in Ivory Coast and collected infected mosquitoes inside the ship.
Whether you should taka malaria prophylaxis for the 12 hours on shore travelling back depends on the risks you are willing to take.
West Africa including Ghana is the area in the world with the highest risk for malaria, so the advice is in our view well given and should be followed.



Vaccinations for 2 weeks in Ghana

I am probably travelling Ghana shortly and have just read the list of vaccinations that I will require.
Will I have to undertake everything in this list? I will only be there for possibly 2 weeks max. My partner is there and is recovering from malaria, so I understand the need to take precautions here, but listed are vaccinations for Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepetitas and Dyptheria?

We recommend vaccinations against yellow feber and hepatitis A as routine. Tetanus and diphteria (combined) if it is more than ten years ago you received the last shot.
Typhoid is usually not regarded as necessary for such a short trip.



Kenya for 3 weeks and malaria prophylaxis

I hope to go to Kenya next month for three weeks, and currently am trying to choose between Lariam and Malarone.
Medical advice has veered towards Lariam, however friends in Kenya who I will be staying with (and are not medical experts) say that Malarone seems to be more effective in their area.
Is Malarone known to be particularly more effective in this area? (Kisii, Kenya, between the Masi Mara game reserve and Kisumu.)

There are no data suggesting that Lariam should not be effective in Kenya, so from a practical point of view both drugs will give you effective protection.
Lariam probably has more side effects, but are much cheaper. One solution could be to start Lariam 3 weeks before departure (one tabler per week). if you tolerate it fine, if not switch to Malarone.



Malaria in Moremi, Botswana

I am travelling to Moremi in Botswana and understand that there is resistance to Chloroquine. As such, I am thinking of taking Malarone.

Is this acceptable?

How long after taking Malarone must we wait before we try to concieve (we are planning to undergo fertility treatment in Aug) ?

Malarone is a good choice of malaria prophylaxis in Moremi, Botswana.
The half-life of the two drugs in Malarone - atovaquone and proguanil - is very short and that is why you need to take it dialy. It is probably very safe after a week som a period of fouur weeks between last tablet and conception would be sensible.

You are also welcome to ask your own questions.