Yellow fever shots?

[Guest slrman]

Well now, let's get specific. Exactly WHICH countries require you to have yellow fever, typhoid, or malaria shots after you have visited anywhere in Brazil? Name one. Or two or three if you have them.

 

Contrary to what many people thing, Brazil is not a filthy third world country, even in the Amazon. If you go and are fortunate enough to stop at little towns up the Rio Negro or Solomões, you will be amazed to find paved streets, electricity, and running water. Yes, even street lights and tourists shops selling trinkets and souvenirs. If you give the locals a T-Shirt, they will appear grateful. As they should, it will be on a rack in their tourist shop next week. So will the felt-tip markers. The candles will be melted down to form part of a larger one to sell to tourists. Why would they need candles when they have electricity?

[Keith1010]

Many countries require that you have a Yellow Fever Vaccination if you have visited a yellow-fever endemic zone. Most of Brazil except for the eastern portion is part of the yellow-fever endemic zone. Countries that require the vaccination include: Aruba, Ausralia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunel, Burma, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fuji, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Gunea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaraqua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe and about twenty others.

 

The key is that the coast of Brazil that is visited by cruise ships (eg,. Rio) is not in the eendemic zone, but if you go into the portions of Brazil that are in the zone (about 85% of the land mass of Brazil) then you would be required to get the vaccination should you be traveling to these other countries.

 

Keith

[Guest slrman]

Keith, you must remember, I LIVE in Brazil and a guarantee you. There is No part of Brazil where any shots are required or even recommended. No one, no where, no place. As for as other countries go, maybe. But I think I would check with their consulates first. You're not doing anyone a service by having them got unneeded vaccinations that could prove dangerous to some people.

 

Furthermore, I have been to many of the countries you mention and I have never had a yellow fever vaccination nor have I ever been even asked about it. I don't know where you obtained this information, but it is simply not accurate.

[Keith1010]

Slrman, I have the CDC book in front of me so I am not making this up. Regardless, I am not giving recommendations here. Only was reading from the web site and I would never advise anyone to just get this shot based on this book. They should check with both the cruise line and with the medical personel who administer these shots. They can provide the medical personel with the list of countries and locations within the country they are going to and the personnel can verify whether or not this shot is required.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

Sirman, a few additional comments.

 

These are direct quotes from the CDC Web Site for South America with respect to the Yellow Fever Vaccination.

 

"Yellow fever is present in this region and vaccination is recommended if you travel to the endemic zones in any of these countries. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain countries if you have visited an endemic area. For detailed information, see Comprehensive Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements. Also, find the nearest authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccine center."

 

"For all travelers >9 months of age going to the endemic zone in Brazil, which includes the states of Acre, Amapa, Amazones, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Rondonia, Roraima, and Tocantins, and areas in the endemic zone of the states of Bahia, Parana, Piaui, Rio Grande do Sul, and Sao Paulo (see map). Vaccination is recommended for travelers visiting Iguaçu Falls. Coastal cities, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife, and Fortaleza, are NOT within the endemic zone."

 

And the second quote is the key point I made the other day. If one is traveling jsut to the coastal cities of Brazil (eg., Rio) the CDC does NOT recommend the need for a yellow fever vaccinations and since the coastal cites are not part of the endemic zone the countries that I listed in my earlier post from the other day would not require that the traveler obtain a yellow fever vaccination. However, as the CDC notes, if the traveler travels to one of the cities of Brazil that is in the endemic zone the CDC does recommend that they receive the yellow fever vaccination and if the person is traveling to one of the countries that I listed in my earlier post subsequent to traveling to the endemic zone than those countries require that the traveler receive a yellow fever vaccination.

 

The most important thing from all of this is that travelers should check with medical personnel on this item. They can provide the medical personnel with the itinerary of their travels so that the medical personnel can determine whether or not they will need the yellow fever vaccination. And if they do , the medical personnel can also provide the traveler with the list of possible side affects that could arise from taking the vaccination. With all of this information the traveler can then make an informed decision as to whether they are required to take the shot and if so, whether they want to go ahead with their travel plans and take the vaccination or whether they want to change their travel plans to avoid going to a location in the world where such as vaccination would be required.

 

Keith

[greatam]

Slrman

 

Vietnam and Cambodia both require proof of Yellow Fever for entry. So does Fiji. I have been asked for proof within the last year. Three trips to Vietnam/Cambodia since October 2005 and have been asked for the vaccination record each time. It is pretty easy to tell by thumbing through an American passport-Brazilian visas take up an entire page.

[Keith1010]

The first bookmark noted by Splinter (Splinter thank you for posting this information) above is from the CDC web site which is the source that I've been using for my earlier posts.

 

That web site is http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=dis&obj=yellowfever.htm

 

It includes a map showing the endemic sites and shows clearly that parts of Brazil (not Rio and the coastal cities) are in the Endemic Zone.

 

Then to determine not only CDC recommendations but Country Requirements I go to the next area of the CDC web site located at http://www2.ncid.cdc.gov/travel/yb/utils/ybGet.asp?section=YBAll

 

This area of the web site provides a chart by country that clearly states if you have visited an enemic site and then visit each of the countries noted on the chart whether or not the country requires a yellow fever vaccination. Some countries, while others don't. The list I provided a few days ago which showed most of the countries that require the yellow fever vaccination (I listed most but not everyone) are clearly listed on the web page. The chart on the web site also provide requierments with respect to Malaria. And, the key to all of this is that regardless of CDC recommendation, the country requirements are determined by each repsective country not the CDC or any other organization outside the country. It is part of the requirements associated with visiting that particular country. No different, then if a country requires a visa for visit. If you want to visit that country you need to comply with their rules.

 

In short, in my case, I use this information to get a feel as to whether or not an entire country or parts of it are in an endemic zone and if it is I can then look up all of the countries that I will be visiting subsequent to that country on my trip to determine whether or not those countries require a yellow fever vaccination. And then, most importantly, I would consult with a health specialist in this area which in the end is the key to all of this to determine what if any shots are required on our trip and what if any shots are recommended for our trip. Finally, the cruise line that I mainly use for my travels provides a list of any vaccinations that are required. Regarless, though I find it very helpful to consult with a medical specialist to not only determine any requirements but as I mentioned to get recommendations as well.

 

Keith

[Splinter]

Apparently my previous message was deleted. Here are the links that I had previously posted:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm

 

Note that Yellow Fever is recommended even for "temperate" (south) South America in the North-Eastern jungle areas (ie, Iguassu falls area)

 

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/temsam.htm#vaccines

 

http://www.who.int/ith/countries/en/