Eat
and drink safely
Diarrhoea
is the most common problem associated with consumption of contaminated
food and drink for travelers.
Eating safely when traveling does not mean you can always eat
where, when and what you wish.
You should always select and prepare food and drink carefully to
prevent contamination by following these simple precautions:
-
Avoid
uncooked food, apart from fruits and vegetables that can be peeled or
shelled, but avoid
fruits from damaged skins.
-
Avoid
ice cream from unreliable sources
-
Unpasteurised
milk should be boiled chlorinated or filtered
-
Avoid
ice cubes, unless you are sure they are made from safe water
-
Beverage
such as hot tea or coffee, wine, beer and carbonated soft drinks or
fruit juices which
are either bottled or packaged are generally safe to drink.
Precautions
to be taken to prevent mosquito bites
-
Apply
insect repellents to exposed skin.
Repeat the application every 3 to 4 hours.
-
Use
mosquito net over the bed, with edges tucked under the mattress.
Ensure that the net
is not born, and that there are no mosquitoes inside.
-
Use
anti-mosquito sprays or insecticide dispensers (mains or battery
operated) in bedrooms
at night.
-
Wear
long sleeved shirts, trousers and socks especially after dark.
Sexually
Transmitted Infections (STI's)
These
are infections transmitted through sexual intercourse.
Examples include gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia and HIV/AIDS.
Symptoms vary, but many include pain on passing urine, watery mucus
discharge and sores.
However, some people with STI’s do not have any obvious symptoms,
and many look perfectly.
Treatments vary.
Some infections may be treated with antibiotics, but for other STIs
there is no treatment.
Measures to avoid sexually transmitted infections are the same
whether you are travelling abroad or not.
HIV/AIDS
It
is found world-wide.
Symptoms may take several months to appear after infection, and
many people infected with HIV have no symptoms and appear healthy.
The HIV virus is present in body fluids, and can be transmitted
from one person to another through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing
of needles or syringes, or procedures with unsterilised medical,
acupuncture or tattooing equipment.
It may also be transmitted in transfusions or contaminated blood,
or from mother to child during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
Measures
to protect you from STI's and HIV/AIDS
-
Limit
the number of sexual partners you have – stick to one faithful
partner
-
Use
condoms whenever you have sex – take some condoms with you if you
think you might need them. Do not assume that if someone looks healthy
he/she is not infected
-
Do
not assume that if someone looks healthy he/she is not infected
-
Do
not share needles or syringes for any purpose, including injection of
drugs
-
Do
not share any implements that could be contaminated with blood, e.g.
razors
-
Reduce
the risk of serious injury leading to possible need for blood
transfusion by taking every day precautions.
Obtaining
condoms
Condoms
are available in all health centres and also private clinics, supermarkets
and pharmacies. However, it is advisable to take some condoms with you
before you leave in case you obtain difficulties in obtaining your condoms
at time you really need them.
Leptospirosis
It
is a tropically occurring disease transmitted by vectors and some domestic
animals and is particularly more common during the rainy season. It is
caused by the Leptospira
bacteria, which is passed out in the urine and faeces of infected rats,
cows, pigs or dogs.
Infection with the bacteria occurs through contact and/or
contamination with infected urine and faeces of animals.
The bacteria can get into the body through abraded skin such as
cuts or scratches and consumption of contaminated food or water.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest pain and loss
of appetite, and if not treated it could cause liver failure, respiratory
disorder and death. Leptospirosis is common in Seychelles, therefore you
will need to take the following precautions at all times to avoid
infection:
·
Avoid
walking barefooted, wear shoes to protect your feet
·
Cover
all abraded skin such as cuts, scratches with waterproof plasters
·
Wash
all fruits and vegetables thoroughly with portable water before consuming
·
Rinse
hands well with soap and water before handling food
·
Do
not eat food that you know or suspect has been contaminated
·
Avoid
bathing in ponds and rivers especially if animals are kept lose by
If
you have any symptoms of leptospirosis, report immediately to the nearest
health centre or hospital for medical attention.
Medical
Kit
You
may think of carrying a medical kit with you.
Your medical kit should contain:
·
Dressing
and wound disinfectant that can be applied easily
·
Sun
creams
·
Insect
repellents
·
Anti-malarial
tablets (if needed)
·
Oral
re-hydration salts
·
Water
sterilisation tablets
·
Condoms
Vaccination
There
is no malaria or other tropical diseases in Seychelles therefore no
vaccination is required. On the
other hand Seychelles require a valid yellow fever vaccination
certificate from travellers arriving from areas or from countries with
infected areas. If you are coming from these infected zones please
ensure that you are in possesion of a valid vaccination certificate.
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