HEALTH
Did you know that you should check if you need immunizations before you go to different parts of the world? Do you know what you can do to not get so many mosquito bites? Did you know staying healthy when you travel is many times about knowing your DOs and DON'Ts?
The Tire Tracks team knows how important health is before and during our trip. On this page, you can check out what Travel Health is all about, What the typical health diseases are in Africa; What you need to do before you go (immunizations); What shots the Tire Tracks team needs; Smart & healthy traveler Dos and Don'ts; (want to go to More info on health?)
WHAT TRAVEL HEALTH IS ALL ABOUT
Preventive medicine is one of the most important aspects of planning an overland expedition. You need to be healthy and fit to be able to enjoy and get the most out of your adventures.
Since we will be traveling for long periods of time in places with greatly varied environments and facilities, it is very important that the team is prepared for the potential health risks in each area. Although you can't prepare for every instance (we will have tummy upsets from time to time, and maybe something more!), there are some key things you can do to be prepared:
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Many people start to get worried when they think about all the possible diseases and potential health problems they may encounter when traveling into remote regions. After all, any list of potential diseases, bites, parasites is a long one, but the chances of the typical traveler coming into contact or experiencing many of these is very slim!
The thing to remember is that if you are a generally healthy person, you have the required immunizations, and you really know your Dos and Don'ts of healthy travel, your chances of getting seriously sick are minimized. A few stomach upsets, long days spent running to the toilet or being dehydrated are common complaints, but are not usually life threatening. Bottom line-be prepared!
back to topTYPICAL HEALTH RISKS AND DISEASES IN AFRICA
Food and waterborne diseases Food and waterborne diseases are the primary cause of illness in travelers. Read more here. |
Biting insects A wide range of tropical diseases are spread by biting insects, one of the most dangerous to the traveler being the risk of catching MALARIA. Read more here. |
Less common insect-borne diseases Mosquitoes and flies also can give you river blindness, sleeping sickness or yellow fever. Read more here. |
PREVENTION
To avoid biting insects take these general precautions:
- Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and pants
- Use insect repellents
- Sleep under a treated mosquito net
- Avoid moving around outside at dusk and dawn
- Sand flies find it hard to jump up high so sleeping on the roof of a building is a good deterrent
From Dr. Ed Rowton, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Importance of medical advice, immunizations and medical kit
One of the best places to start to learn about the vaccinations, health precautions and risks for the countries you intend to visit is to visit the US's Center for Disease Control website, World Health Organization, and/or your local travel clinic.
IMMUNIZATIONS
| What is a vaccination? | |
Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine, to stimulate a protective immune response that will prevent disease in the vaccinated person (if contact with the corresponding infectious agent occurs subsequently.) In other words, immunizations are shots (or jabs) that you get to help protect yourself from getting potentially harmful and deadly diseases.
If vaccination is successful, this results in immunization: 'the vaccinated person has been immunized'. In practice, the terms "vaccination" and "immunization" are often used interchangeably.
How do you know what immunizations you need? Read more here.
WHAT IMMUNIZATIONS the TIRE TRACKS TEAM NEEDS
There is a lot of them! But, remember that the team is visiting 35+ countries, many which have very different environments than our bodies are used to.
On top of the standard immunizations, we need the following shots: Cholera (lasts 2 years), Hepatitis A (lasts 10 years), Hepatitis B (lasts 15 years), Meningococcal meningitis, (lasts 3 years), Rabies (does not provide immunity, but does provide you with another 48-72 hours to get to a hospital, lasts 2 years), Polio Tetanus and Diphtheria (booster, lasts 15 years), Typhoid (lasts 3 years), Yellow fever (required to get into most countries, lasts 10 years).
How do you keep track of the shots you get? Sometimes you need certain immunizations, as yellow fever, before you can enter a country. How do you prove that you had the shots? Check out our International Certificate of Vaccination here.
MEDICAL KIT 
Lastly, a good medical kit is an essential part of an expedition. See the gear planning and preparation section for the medical kit essentials the team will bring along. Mostly the medical supplies will be used to treat basic everyday needs (insect bites, burns, headaches, tummy upsets, etc.), but if the team needs professional medical attention, it is always smart to bring your kit with you. In some places, there are trained doctors but only limited supplies.
ON THE ROAD-SMART and HEALTHY TRAVELER DOs & DON'Ts
| Dos & Don'ts |
The best way to stay healthy is by following some basic guidelines, and using common sense.
Eating & Drinking
| Do take care in what you eat and drink. This is the most important health rule! | Do not eat what you can't boil, cook or peel. |
| Do remember that when boiling water at high altitudes, water boils at a lower temperature, so germs are less likely to be killed. | Do drink bottled, chemically sterilized, purified or boiled water.  |
| Do carry a water bottle with you on walking/hiking or long trips.
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Do be careful of buying fresh fruit juice since untreated water may have been added. |
| Do not drink water from bottles that don't have a protected or serrated seal. Sometimes water bottles are refilled with local tap water and tops or corks are put on top. | Do not rely on feeling thirsty to indicate when you should drink, especially in hot climates. Not needing to urinate, or the passing of very dark yellow urine is a danger sign. |
| Do not be tempted to have ice in drinks and try to avoid ice cream made from an unsure water supply or with unpasteurized milk. | Do try local foods-they are usually excellent! If needed, take necessary precautions when buying from street vendors. |
There are lots more tips you can read about-- Health & Hygiene and Insects & Animals. Click here to read more Dos & Don'ts.
