Vaccinations for Iguazu Falls?

[Toledo Cruiser]

We plan to visit the Falls in Jan 09 before our cruise on Infinity. I have recently read on the CDC site that Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Malaria preventive vaccines/medications are strongly recommended. Any advise from seasoned CC travelers?

[Mines]

We went to Iguassa Falls some years ago without any vaccinations at all, but there were mosquitos around and there have been some cases of Yellow Fever in the interior of Brazil recently, so it is good to be careful. I don't think that typhoid and malaria are prevalent in this area, but yellow fever jabs would be recommended.

[xpcdoojk]

We were told in 2005 that the vacinations were not required for Iquassu. That may have changed.

 

jc

[sultan_sfo]

We did Iguassu from Rio pre-cruise Rio / BA in Jan 2007. No vaccinations or other preventions required. But those who did the New Orleans / Rio (the repositioning cruise prior to ours) needed Yellow Fever because of the ports on that cruise.

[greatam]

With the recent outbreak in Brazil AND cases reported in the Misones area of Argentina (close to the Falls-first outbreak in over 40 years), vaccinations are recommended. If it gets worse, the shots MAY be REQUIRED.

 

Again, IMHO, unless you medically cannot take the shot, why wouldn't you??? It would be very disheartening to get all the way to SA, have the rules change while you are in transit or even 5 days before your trip and miss one of the really great sites of the world. JMHO

[sultan_sfo]

A different question: Does one need (or greatam do "you" recommend) Yellow Fever or Malaria prevention for Lima / Maldonado / MP?

[Wendy The Wanderer]

My TA's opinion is, "just get the d**ed shots" if you're going to enter Brazil.

[greatam]

A different question: Does one need (or greatam do "you" recommend) Yellow Fever or Malaria prevention for Lima / Maldonado / MP?

 

IMHO, it would sure be advisable. Puerto Maldonado butts up against areas of Brazil and Bolivia that have RECENTLY had outbreaks of YF. You are going into the jungle, which is EXACTLY where YF is and Maldonado is in the endemic zone.

 

Like the previous poster stated and the way I personally feel, get the d*** shot unless you have a medical reason not to. It could certainly make your life easier for future travels and prevent you from getting some weird disease.

 

Speaking of YF and other countries-the US press corp plane (travels with the President) was detained last night at the Beijing airport for 3 hours. This was a NW plane DIRECT from the US. Most of the delay was China checking luggage and making sure there weren't any "dissidents" on the plane. Then they made everyone INDIVIDUALLY walk through immigration/customs (press planes and "special cargo planes" are normally cleared en masse-crew, pax and cargo cleared in a procedure much like a ship clears).

 

When the individual screenings were taking place, three off the plane (my contact said one was a camera man and one was a print reporter) were sent to HKG for-you guessed it-lack of YF vaccination. This problem could ruin a vacation, but it is possible these people could be looking for a new job. Another case of "just get the d**** shots".