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Health and Safety considerations
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Of our family destinations, Seychelles is the safest from a health viewpoint. There is no malaria, and, being just outside the cyclonic belt, there are few violent storms. The wildlife is also benign, with no poisonous fauna. When in Ecuador, if you only visit Quito and the Galapagos, malaria will not be a problem. All our other destinations (that is, Madagascar, Borneo, Sri Lanka, Belize, Costa Rica and Honduras) have malaria present in varying degrees. Prevention is better than cure, so it is advisable to take malaria prophylaxis (see report below); cover up at dawn and dusk using closely-woven cotton long-sleeved shirts and long trousers (taking care to tuck trousers into your socks); and make liberal use of insect repellents and portable mosquito nets. By taking such precautions, mosquito bites can largely be avoided.
Furthermore, some destinations, such as those in Central and South America and Borneo, have poisonous snakes and other potentially harmful wildlife (please contact us for more details), but they tend to avoid humans and thus it is rarely the case that anything untoward occurs. In all our trips as a family, nothing worse than the odd tummy upset has ever happened to us or our children.
IMPORTANT: In all instances, we strongly advise consulting a medical professional who will be able to indicate appropriate vaccinations and other preventative measures to ensure a safe holiday for all the family. Some helpful tips are given below.
New Malaria Prophylaxis For Children: Dr Richard Dawood, the author of Travellers’ Health and based at the Fleet Street Travel Clinic (Tel: 020 7353 5678), wrote in the Daily Telegraph of 23 November, 2002, that "anti-malarial tablets for children will revolutionise long-haul family holidays." He goes on to report that "the approval this week of the anti-malarial drug Malarone opens up many new opportunities for families wishing to travel to the tropics. Malorone was first licensed in Britain for adults last year [ie, 2001]. It is 98% effective against Plasmodium falciparum the most dangerous strain of the malaria parasite. The new children’s tablets are much easier to use, and come in appropriate doses. Studies confirm that the side-effects of Malorone in children are few. This long-awaited anti-malarial option will enable families to travel farther with much greater safety and peace of mind." Malorone effectively replaces Larium (which allegedly caused harmful side-effects) and can be used by adults too. Low cost supply available from Stratford Pharmacy Tel: 01789 266182 info@stratford-pharmacy.co.uk
Autan Active: For those parents who dislike deet-based repellents, this alternative is effective, smells less and is available from most chemists.
Mosi-Guard: This is a repellent produced from naturally-sourced chemicals, and so will appeal to parents who dislike synthetic chemicals in their repellents.
Portable Mosquito Nets: Please be aware that mosquitoes are present throughout the tropics. We strongly recommend taking these with you wherever you go in the tropics we like the ones from LifeSystems the most. Use for children and parents alike.
High Factor Suncream: We recommend using very high factor sun protection initially, then gradually changing to lower factor products as the skin becomes more accustomed to the sun’s rays. Cream should be applied at least 30 minutes prior to exposure to the sun, and should be re-applied regularly, especially if swimming.
PLEASE NOTE: Reef and Rainforest Tours cannot accept responsibility for any advice given in good faith concerning health or other matters, however it is given. Clients are strongly urged to seek appropriate advice from relevant expert sources, including embassies, high commissions, medical clinics and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
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