Necessary health precautions when travelling

THE Rugby World Cup is just around the corner and its destination – Japan – has avid rugby followers wondering if they need to take extra health precautions in the form of vaccinations.
Healthcare centres across the country have been flooded with queries about whether or not a vaccination against the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis, or any other illness, is required.
‘This vaccine is not a requirement and is not considered necessary by health authorities, but we do advise taking some other important measures to protect one’s health when visiting Japan,’ said Dr Pete Vincent of the Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross in Cape Town.
He said the Japanese are fastidious about health and hygiene, and the country is not considered a particularly risky destination when it comes to health.
In addition, the period between September and October is an ideal time to visit as the climate tends to be temperate and pleasant at that time of year.
‘Nevertheless, with occasions of this nature, where large numbers of people congregate, there is always a risk of the spread of infections.
‘It should also be noted that a rubella (German measles) outbreak was recently reported in Japan, so it is a good idea to ensure that one takes measures to protect against that, particularly pregnant women.
‘Furthermore, many fans will travel to Japan from Europe and North America where there have been recent measles outbreaks.
‘The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination or vaccination booster is therefore strongly advised.’
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has recommended that pregnant women who are not protected against rubella through either vaccination or previous rubella infection should avoid travelling to Japan during this outbreak, especially if they are in their first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
People with chronic conditions must ensure they have sufficient medication for the duration of their trip and those who are prone to blood clots should consider wearing high-quality compression stockings during the flight.
Dr Vincent said the greatest risk travellers face is contracting respiratory infections so should practice good hygiene and cough-and-sneeze etiquette.
This includes regular hand washing, covering your mouth when coughing and directing a cough or sneeze away from others.