Ethiopia: Health & Immunization Info

******************************** NEW HEALTH INFO ******************************* 

1) Please double check that your student's Measles vacinne is up to date!

2) Please read the following link concerning Meningitis in Africa

READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY!

This is a summary of numerous travel health related websites.  We encourage you to visit these sites to answer any health related questions you have related to traveling in Ethiopia:

MD Travel Health    -   http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/africa/ethiopia.php

CDC- Center for Disease Control and prevention / Ethiopia - http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/ethiopia.aspx#mal_risk

Before visiting Ethiopia, you need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases: To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 6-8 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria.

Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date.  Routine vaccines, as they are often called, such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) are given at all stages of life

IMPORTANT: Please bring a photocopy of your updated health record with you on the project.

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Malaria

Malaria is not a threat in the city of Addis Ababa due to the altitude and sanitation.

However, ALL participants need to take an anti-malarial medication for the 7 day period that the project will travel out of Addis Ababa to work with the Jesus Film project and for project debrief.

So please, visit your doctor or health center and explain:  You will be in Ethiopia for one month in a non-malaria zone EXCEPT for 7 consecutive days out of the city where there is a Malaria risk.

The following is a summary of anti-malarial medications:

IMPORTANT NOTE: The project leadership asks that you NOT choose Lariam (Mefloquin) as your malaria preventative. We have had one situation when a student took it and a significant negative reaction during project, and also experienced long term negative effects. There are several other good options available. The Kushner family has taken Malarone both times in Uganda and this has worked well with extremely minimal side effects.

DO NOT TAKE THE FOLLOWING:

• · Lariam (Mefloquin)
• · Chloroquine is NOT an effective anti-malarial drug in Ethiopia

DO choose one of the two following anti-malarial drugs:

1)-Atovaquone/proguanil (“Malarone”);

The combination of these two active ingredients is effective and is sold under the brand name Malarone ^TM.

• Must be taken daily·
• Should be started 2 days BEFORE entering a malaria-risk area·
• Daily during your stay·
• As well as 7 days AFTER leaving.·
• This anti-malaria drug is relatively expensive (covered by insurance in most cases)·
• But does not have major side effects, (but for a few individuals may include reactions such as like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and headaches).·
• Malarone TM should be taken at the same time daily and is best taken with a meal.

How many doses of Malarone do I need?

For Project 1: 2 before days + 7 days out of the city + 7 after days = 16 daily doses

For Project II: 2 before days + 7 days out of the city + 7 after days = 16 daily doses

For Interns/staff staying both projects: 2 before days + 7 days out of the city + 7 after days = 16 daily doses X2 (for both     projects) = 32 daily doses for the summer

If you still have questions please see Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria.

2)-Doxycycline;

The ingredient doxycycline has been the trusted form of treatment for preventing malaria for some time.

• Must be taken once daily –
• with a meal (Taking the medication on a full stomach seems to lessen the nausea caused, but a person should not lie down for at least 60 minutes after taking this medication to prevent reflux of the drug).
• at the same time each day (with adequate fluid)
• for 2 days BEFORE arrival in a malaria area
• Daily during your stay
• Continued for 4 weeks AFTER leaving the area.
• This is one of the cheapest available anti-malaria drugs
• People may become photosensitive while taking a doxycycline and to prevent sunburn, use good sun-block creams, covering clothes and a hat.

How many doses of Doxycycline do I need?

For Project 1: 2 before days + 7 days out of the city + 28 after days = 37 daily doses

For Project II: 2 before days + 7 days out of the city + 28 after days = 37 daily doses

For Interns/staff staying both projects: 2 before days + 7 days out of the city + 28 after days = 37 daily doses X 2 for both projects = 74 daily doses

If you still have questions please see Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria.

Your choice of malaria drugs will depend on your personal medical history and health condition as well as the duration and itinerary of your travels as some drugs work better in certain areas than others.

Although these anti-malarial drugs are taken as a preventative measure, they are potent drugs and for this reason, store them in childproof containers out of reach of children.

Timing is very important with this type of malaria drug, and for this reason the medication must be taken in the prescribed manner and at the precise times as indicated, without missing any doses.  Our project leaders will regulate this daily at the appropriate time during the project.

For information that can help you and your doctor decide which of these drugs would be best for you, please see Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria.

You must purchase your anti-malarial drugs before travel.

Ways to prevent malaria include the following:

• Taking a prescription anti-malarial drug
• Using insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves to prevent mosquito bites
• Sleeping in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms or using bed nets

FYI - Cholera

Most travelers are at extremely low risk for Cholera infection but outbreaks do occur in Ethiopia. Most outbreaks are related to contaminated drinking water, typically in situations of poverty, overcrowding, and poor sanitation. 

Our team will take the following preventative measures:

• Requiring all participants to use bottled water (for drinking, hygiene, etc.) which we will provide
• Eating in a Seminary cafeteria and clean restaurants

Other medical Items to Bring with You

Medicines you need:

• The prescription medicines you take every day. Make sure you have enough to last during your trip. (Keep them in their original prescription bottles and always in your carry-on luggage. Be sure to follow security guidelines, if the medicines are liquids.)
• Anti-malarial drugs prescribed by your doctor.
• Medicine for diarrhea, usually over-the-counter.

Other items you need:

• Sunblock and sunglasses for protection from harmful effects of UV sun rays.
• Anti-bacterial hand wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol