Health Canada has recently posted the following travel advisories:
Reports of Gastrointestinal Illness - in the Dominican Republic - Released: January 20, 2005 Click Here for More
Cholera
Click on images below for detailed Cholera facts and prevention information.
Be prepared. Your local Travel Clinic can help you plan for a safe and healthy adventure. What Is It?
Cholera is a disease characterized by severe diarrhea leading to rapid dehydration, which if untreated, may lead to death in 24 hours.
Cholera is transmitted through food or water contaminated with dog, cat or human feces.
Where Is It?
The US Centers for Disease Control reports that since 1961, V. cholerae has spread from
Indonesia through most of Asia into eastern Europe and Africa, and from North Africa to
the Iberian Peninsula. In 1991, an extensive epidemic began in Peru and spread to neighboring
countries in the Western Hemisphere.
The map below was published by the World Health Organization in Jan 2002:
Prevention Tips
Follow strict food and water precautions while travelling.
Ensure all food is well cooked - especially meat and seafood.
Consume only canned or commercially bottled drinks.
Ensure ice cubes are made from purified water.
Eat only fruits and vegetables that you wash and peel yourself.
Avoid cold cuts, salads, watermelon and puddings.
If you will have ongoing close contact with the local population in areas with a high
incidence of cholera (e.g. health care workers or workers in refugee camps), you may benefit
from complete immunization against cholera in order to reduce symptoms if you develop this disease.
Available Immunizations
Vaccination consists of an oral preparation that is available through your local Travel Clinic.
Cholera vaccine is no longer required, nor recommended for the vast majority of Canadian travellers.
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