HEPATITIS B and HIV INFECTION
These diseases can be transmitted by:

1. Blood transfusion
2. Medical procedures with non sterile equipment
3. Sharing of needles (e.g. tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture and drug abuse)
4. Sexual contact. (Sexually transmitted diseases are also transmitted by no. 4)

Ways to protect yourself:

• Only accept a blood transfusion when essential
• If travelling to a developing country, take a sterile medical kit
• Avoid procedures e.g. ear, body piercing, tattooing and acupuncture
• Avoid casual sex, especially without using condoms

Remember - excessive alcohol can make you carefree and lead you to take risks you otherwise would not consider.


INSECT BITES
Mosquitoes, certain types of flies, ticks and bugs can cause many different diseases. e.g. malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever. Some bite at night, but some during daytime.

Avoid being bitten by:

• Covering up skin as much as possible if going out at night, (mosquitoes that transmit malaria bite from dusk until dawn). Wear light coloured clothes, long sleeves, trousers or long skirts
• Use insect repellents on exposed skin. (Choose those containing DEET or eucalyptus oil base. A content of approximately 35% DEET is recommended for tropical destinations.) Clothes can be sprayed with repellents too. Impregnated wrist and ankle bands are also available. Check suitability for children on the individual products
• If room is not air conditioned, but screened, close shutters early evening and spray room with knockdown insecticide spray. In malarious regions, if camping, or sleeping in unprotected accommodation, always sleep under a mosquito net (impregnated with permethrin). Avoid camping near areas of stagnant water, these are common breeding areas for mosquitoes etc
• Electric insecticide vaporisers are very effective as long as there are no power failures!
• Electric buzzers, garlic and vitamin B are ineffective

MALARIA
If you are travelling to a malarious country, the travel nurse will have given you a separate leaflet with more details, please read it. Remember, malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease.


ANIMAL BITES
Rabies is present in many parts of the world. If a person develops rabies, death is 100% certain. There are 3 rules regarding rabies:

1. Do not touch any animal, even dogs and cats
2. If you are licked on broken skin or bitten in a country which has rabies, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for 5 minutes
3. Seek medical advice immediately, even if you have been previously immunised

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