Karimu International Help Foundation

Immunizations

You are required to have the following immunisations within the time span indicated:Yellow Fever

• Within the last 10 years. Transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.  South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Mozambique often require you to show an International Yellow Fever Certificate when you enter the country. The certificate is an important piece of paper to have.

Tetanus

• Within the last 10 years.  Tetanus is introduced to your body through injury, e.g. a scratch, bite or burn.

Typhoid Fever

• Within the last 3 years.  Spread through contaminated food and water.  Two different immunisations are available.  An injectable vaccine (Viantigen) and an oral vaccine (Ty21a).

Polio

• Within the last 10 years.  A viral disease spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing, or by contamination of food and drink by faeces from an infected person.

Hepatitis ‘A’

• Spread through contaminated food and water and attacks the liver.  Modern Hep A vaccines are highly effective and if boosted at 6-12 months provide long term (10+ years) of protection.

Meningococcal Meningitis

• Within the last 3 years.  Spread by breathing in droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by carriers.

TB

• Protection for life once immunised.  Most of you will have had this in the form of a BCG (the injection into your upper arm, which usually leaves a scar) aged 13.  If you haven’t you should consult your doctor on the matter.

The following immunisations are recommended:Hepatitis ‘B’

• Within the last 3 years.  Spread through infected blood, especially by sexual intercourse.

Rabies

• Within the last 1 to 3 years depending on exposure to risk.  Spread by a bite from an infected animal, this is a fatal disease once the symptoms begin.  Vaccination rather than provide outright immunisation provides an infected person with more time to get to medical help.

NB. Do contact your Doctor to find out how long you need to spread the inoculations over. Some need one month or more.

B. Malaria Prevention- Information provided by MASTA

Malaria is present in all the African countries that we travel through and anti-malarial drugs are essential for all stages your Quest Africa trip.
<!–[endif]–>Please note:  Quest is not in a position to make medical recommendations of any kind other than first aid  (in which all staff are qualified).  Therefore we cannot recommend an anti malarial drug to any student.  It is essential that you talk to your doctor or a health advisor about which malarial pills are appropriate for you.  All we can do is share our experience from working in Africa and South America.  Malaria is transmitted by mosquito bites so your risk of catching malaria is seriously reduced if you prevent getting bitten in the first place:

• Use insect repellent and cover exposed skin when dust falls.
• Spray repellent on thin clothing as well as the skin beneath.
• Sleep under mosquito net or in a screened room/tent.
• Use smoke coils if sitting outside to keep mosquitoes away.
• Garlic, Vitamin B and Ultrasound devices do not prevent bites.
• Those students who cover up in the evenings/early morning and plaster on the insect repellent are much less likely to catch malaria.
• Students who have been conscientious about taking their malarial pills will get a much milder form of the illness if they catch it. As a result, most students bounce back into action within 3 days of being diagnosed and treated and are able to carry on the expedition as normal.
• A point for women taking oral contraceptives:  taking the Pill will reduce the effectiveness of your anti-malarial drugs and taking anti-malarial drugs will also reduce the effectiveness of your Pill.

There are three recommended anti-malarial regimes:Mefloquine  (Trade name Lariam ) one 250mg tablet per week). This is the regime recommended by MASTA but you must consider the following:

• Mefloquine is not suitable for everybody therefore its use must be discussed with your doctor or travel health advisor.
• You should start taking these tablets at least one week (preferably 2-3 weeks) before entering the first malarial area of your journey, continue them while you are away and for at least 3 weekly doses after your return.

Doxycycline one 100mg tablet per day

• Doxycycline is a strong Antibiotic and therefore not suitable for everyone, therefore its use must be discussed with your doctor or travel health advisor.
• Take with or after food with plenty of cool fluid.  Do not lie down for at least one hour after taking capsule.  It’s important not to miss a dose.
• Start capsules 2 days before entering first malarial area of your journey and continue for 1 week after leaving the last malarial country.

Malarone (a combination of atovaquone and proguanil) one tablet daily.

• Take with food or a milky drink at the same time each day.
• Start tablets at least 1-2 days before entering the first malarial area of your journey and continue for 1 week after leaving the last malarial country.
• Malorone is the newest drug and as such is also the most expensive, particularly if you need a 3 month suppl