France Health
& Vaccinations
The preventive measures
you need to take while traveling in Western Europe depend on the areas
you visit and the length of time you stay. For most areas of this region,
you should observe health precautions similar to those that would apply
while traveling in the United States.
Travelers' diarrhea,
the number one illness in travelers, can be caused by viruses, bacteria,
or parasites, which can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause
diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites),
fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis).
Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. (See below.)
A certificate of
yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain of these
countries if you are coming from countries in tropical South America
or sub-Saharan Africa. (There is no risk for yellow fever in Western
Europe.)
Tickborne encephalitis,
a viral infection of the central nervous system, occurs chiefly in Central
and Western Europe. Travelers are at risk who visit or work in forested
areas during the summer months and who consume unpasteurized dairy products.
The vaccine for this disease is not available in the United States at
this time. To prevent tickborne encephalitis, as well as Lyme disease,
travelers should take precautions to prevent tick bites (see below).
CDC Recommends the
Following Vaccines (as Appropriate for Age):
See your doctor
at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take
effect.
Hepatitis A or immune
globulin (IG). You are not at increased risk in Northern and Western
Europe, but there is some risk in Southern Europe and the countries
bordering the Mediterranean, as well as Portugal.
Hepatitis B, if
you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have
sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months
in Southern Europe, or be exposed through medical treatment.
As needed, booster
doses for tetanus-diphtheria. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended
for all infants and for children ages 11-12 years who did not complete
the series as infants.
All travelers should
take the following precautions, no matter the destination:
Wash hands often
with soap and water.
Because motor vehicle
crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers, walk and drive
defensively. Avoid travel at night if possible and always use seat belts.
Always use latex
condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Don't eat or drink
dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
Don't share needles
with anyone.
Never eat undercooked
ground beef and poultry, raw eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products.
Raw shellfish is particularly dangerous to persons who have liver disease
or compromised immune systems.
Travelers to rural or undeveloped areas should take the following precautions:
To Stay Healthy,
Do:
Drink only bottled
or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid
tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible,
make water safer by BOTH filtering through an "absolute 1-micron
or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water.
"Absolute 1-micron filters" are found in camping/outdoor supply
stores.
Eat only thoroughly
cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember:
boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
Protect yourself
from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied
sparingly at 4-hour intervals), and wearing long-sleeved shirts and
long pants tucked into boots or socks as a deterrent to ticks.
To prevent fungal
and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
To Avoid Getting
Sick:
Don't eat food purchased
from street vendors. Do not drink beverages with ice.
Don't handle animals
(especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases
(including rabies and plague).
What You Need To Bring with You:
Insect repellent
containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30 percent-35 percent strength
for adults and 6percent-10percent for children. The insecticide permethrin
applied to clothing is an effective deterrent to ticks.
Over-the-counter
antidiarrheal medicine to take if you have diarrhea.
Iodine tablets and
water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available.
Sunblock, sunglasses,
hat.
Prescription medications:
make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy
of the prescription(s).
After You Return
Home:
If you become ill after your trip--even as long as a year after you
return--tell your doctor where you have traveled.
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