Health Tip
You can still develop malaria after you leave the endemic area. To be most effective, the prescribed medication must be continued for four (4) weeks after you return home.

What can I do?

• Mosquitos may transmit yellow fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever, as well as other diseases
• Limit outdoor activity between dusk and dawn to reduce the risk of malaria and Japanese encephalitis. (Dengue fever, however, is transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes, primarily in urban areas.)
• Reapply insect repellent after swimming or excessive sweating
• Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants whenever practical
• Sleep in well-screened areas
• Use bed nets permeated with a permethrin insecticide
• Use coils and insect sprays containing pyrethrum to kill insects in living areas

Health Tip
To protect yourself from fleas and ticks, wear closed footwear and tuck your pants into your socks. You can soak clothing in an insecticide, such as permethrin, for extra protection.

What can I do?

• Always wear protective footwear - slip on a pair of sandals or flip-flops even on the beach
• Update tetanus immunization every 10 years
• Avoid direct contact with contaminated sand or soil
• Don't walk in long grass, especially at night, to avoid bites from snakes and scorpions

Health Tip
Not all water is unsafe. You can swim to your heart's content in the ocean or in chlorinated pools.

What can I do?

• Don’t swim, wade or walk in slow moving fresh water lakes, rivers or streams where these parasites are known to occur
• If fresh water contact is unavoidable, dry off quickly to prevent the parasite from penetrating the skin
• If you must swim in a lake, use the deepest portion at the center and avoid the edges where snails are likely to breed
• Infested water allowed to stand for 48 hours may be safely used for bathing

Health Tip
While portable water purifiers greatly improve the taste of water and assist in the purification process, they should not be used alone. It's essential to boil or chemically treat your water first.

What can I do?

• Consume only canned or commercially bottled “carbonated” drinks
• Ensure ice cubes are made from purified water too
• Filtration alone is not recommended
• Brushing teeth should also be done with purified water. If it’s not available, use hot tap water

What is the best way to purify my water?

• Bring water to a full boil
• Chemically treat your water by adding 2 percent tincture of iodine as follows:
  Clear water source: 5 drops per litre.
  Cloudy water source: 10 drops per litre
• Purchase a portable water purifier

What can I do if I get diarrhea?

• Drink plenty of fluids, containing some sugar, to prevent dehydration
• Drink clear broth or eat salted crackers to compensate for loss of salt
• Avoid milk products
• If you have bloody stools, seek medical attention
• Ask your doctor to provide a stand-by treatment
• Try an oral rehydration method:
  a) Gastrolyte sachets (commercially prepared)
  b) Alternately drink the contents of glasses No. 1 and No. 2

Health Tip
Don't forget to wash your hands carefully before eating or preparing food.

What can I do?

• Ensure all food is well cooked - especially meat and seafood
• Serve food hot. Bacteria grow quickly as food cools
• Don’t eat leftovers, food from street vendors, or unpasteurized dairy products
• Never eat raw shellfish
• Avoid cold cuts, salads, watermelon and puddings
• Don’t eat canned food if the tin appears “blown” or “swollen”

Can I eat raw fruits and vegetables?

• Eat only fruits and vegetables that you wash and peel yourself
• Cook or bake fruit and vegetables that can’t be peeled or washed