Rio de Janeiro Health
Malaria Infection
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Symptoms of malaria include high fevers, body aches, chills, vomiting and anemia. This infectious disease is very common in states like Acre and Amazonas. Prophylactic drugs are taken to prevent malaria, especially for tourists traveling in high-risk areas.
Vaccination against Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a highly contagious viral disease, which is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. Brazil has specific guidelines for visitors who traveled recently into countries with high epidemics of yellow fever, like Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, French Guiana, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela and Zaire. Travelers from these countries must present an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) for yellow fever. Travelers who visit different states within Brazil, like Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhao, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins are recommended to get vaccinated against yellow fever.
Rio de Janeiro health clinics offer free yellow fever vaccines to travelers, especially to those who are traveling in highly infected areas. It takes about 10 days to become fully immunized. However, exemption forms are available for those who are unable to take the vaccine due to medical reasons. The medical exemption form must be filled out and signed by a physician in order for it to be valid. Contact your nearest Brazilian embassy or consulate to get more information about exemption requirements from mandatory vaccinations in Brazil.
The Dangers of Dengue Fever
The dengue fever is an acute disease that is caused by the flavivirus. This fever is highly contagious and is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito as well. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines to prevent the dengue fever. However, some preventive methods are used to stop the spread of this acute viral infection, like larvicide and mosquito repellents. These methods have reduced the outbreak of dengue fever in Rio de Janeiro. In fact, Rio de Janeiro health clinics can test travelers for dengue fever, if their fever is persistent for two or more days.
HIV, Hepatitis A and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are steadily growing in numbers in many of the heavily populated neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, like HIV. Travelers and residents are advised not to engage in risky sexual behaviors that put them at risk for contracting HIV and other STDs. Health outreach services in Rio de Janeiro distribute condoms and teach HIV prevention among the populace, especially during the carnival season. HIV transmission is very high among heterosexual in Brazil.
Travel Health Insurance and Medical Care in Rio
Brazil does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK or USA. Travelers are strongly advised to get a travel health insurance to cover medical expenses that may occur from contracting any of these diseases while in Brazil as medical costs are high. The standard of medical care in Rio de Janeiro is quite good and English-speaking medical staff can be found in Rio’s major clinics.
Read on the next page: Rio de Janeiro Safety »
Popularity: unranked [?]
