| |
Special
Precautions |
Certificate
Required |
| Yellow
Fever |
Yes |
1 |
| Cholera |
Yes |
2 |
| Typhoid
and Polio |
3 |
N/A |
| Malaria |
4 |
N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required
from all travellers over one year of age arriving from endemic or
infected areas. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note
that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban
areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and
they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the
country.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera
vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to The
Gambia. However, cholera is a risk in this country and precautions are
necessary. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether
these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is
divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for
more information.
3: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is
often advised.
4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum
form, exists all year throughout the country. Chloroquine resistance
has been reported.
Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially
contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice
should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is
unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is
available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with
pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from
unboiled milk. Only eat well cooked meat and fish, preferably served
hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables
should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases, including giardiasis,
and typhoid fevers are common. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis)
is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools
that are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Hepatitis A and
E are widespread. Hepatitis B is
endemic. Epidemics of meningococcal disease may occur
throughout tropical Africa, particularly in the savannah areas and
during the dry season. Immunisation against diphtheria is
sometimes recommended.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk,
vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten,
seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health
appendix.
Health care: Visitors are advised to bring good supplies of
sunscreen, insect repellent and indigestion/diarrhoea medicines; all of
these may be needed and they can prove expensive or, in some cases,
impossible to buy in The Gambia. The Government provides both
therapeutic and preventative medical and health services, and plays a
dominant role in health services. Health insurance is advised.
New
Research has shown that 1 in 10 passengers developed a clot after a
taking a long haul flight.
It should be noted that long haul is defined as 8 hours or more and
Gambia flights are generally only 6 hours.
However delays can extend the time seated on the plane to close on the
8 hour definition so it would be silly to be complacent.
Most
clots just disappear and cause no ill affects but some can result in
serious problems, even deaths.
The
situation is almost totally avoidable if the following advice is taken
and airlines and booking agencies are being urged to inform their
customers.
The fact
that some tourists make be put off travelling seems to be the only
reason for not providing these simple guidelines.
- Rotate and exercise
your ankles each half hour of your flight
- Try to take a
comfort break every couple of hours so you can exercise your legs
- Avoid Alcohol and
Caffeine drinks before and during your flight
- Do not take
sleeping pills
- Consult your doctor
about whether any medical conditions you have put you at higher risk
and take the advice given
The fact
that flights to The Gambia are so short, should be a very positive
reason for choosing Gambia as a safer holiday destination.
Source: World
Travel Guide.
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