Saturday June 11, 2022 – Author:
zdr
If you are planning a long-distance trip, you should arm yourself with vaccinations and medication against exotic diseases. The reason: In many countries in Asia, Africa and South America, the fight against tropical diseases was neglected due to the corona pandemic.
The corona pandemic has overshadowed other diseases. But just because they’ve lost consciousness doesn’t mean they’ve lost any of their dangerousness. On the contrary: Since the beginning of the pandemic, infections with malaria, dengue, chikungunya or Zika pathogens have increased in many non-European travel destinations, in some cases significantly. This emerges from travel information from Envivas Krankenversicherung AG.
Special caution when traveling to Asia, Africa and South America
A central reason for this: In developing countries, vaccination campaigns and the fight against mosquitoes came to a standstill or were neglected due to the corona pandemic. Holidaymakers who want to travel to Asian, African or South and Central American countries in particular are therefore recommended to update their medical travel insurance in good time before their trip.
Malaria programs were interrupted as a result of the corona pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded around 70,000 additional deaths in 2020 alone. Around two-thirds are due to the fact that malaria programs were interrupted due to the Covid 19 pandemic, according to the WHO in its annual Malaria Report. “Especially with malaria, one of the most dangerous infectious diseases, the risk of infection is particularly high,” says Envivas AG. The virus is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, which is active at night and at dusk. Dengue fever, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes, has increased again during the pandemic due to the lack of mosquito control programs. Dengue is an acute disease with a sudden onset of fever.
Two months before departure: consult a doctor
The necessary preparations depend on the region, duration, route and planned activities. Six to eight weeks before the start of the trip is recommended for an appointment with the family doctor or travel medicine specialist. People with special illnesses should speak to the doctors treating them at an earlier stage.
How to protect yourself against malaria
There is no travel medicine vaccination against malaria. However, preventive medication can be started one or two days before traveling to certain malaria areas. For regions with a lower risk of malaria infection, the German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (DTG) does not recommend permanent prophylaxis, but an immediate medical examination on site. If this is not possible within 24 to 48 hours, the experts recommend taking emergency medication with you, which should be taken immediately in the event of malaria.
Dengue fever: Vaccination possible
A vaccine against dengue has been available in some countries for a few years and has also been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). However, its use is associated with a higher rate of severe dengue cases in some areas. Another vaccine that has proven to be effective and safe according to the current study situation is to be approved in autumn. There is currently no vaccination against the Zika virus.
This is how you protect yourself from mosquitoes
- wear light-colored clothing impregnated with permethrin to protect against mosquitoes,
- stay in mosquito-proof rooms with air conditioning and mosquito screens and use mosquito nets when sleeping,
- Spray or soak textiles with permethrin and rub uncovered skin with one of the mosquito-repellent scents Deet (30 to 50 percent) or Icaridin (20 percent).
(Source: Envivas Krankenversicherung AG)