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 Health & Beauty | February 2007 
Malaria, Dengue Warnings Given
 Mary-Jane Egan - Sun Media
| | While vaccinations are available to fight deadly malaria, there's no drug or shot available to battle less serious, but sometimes deadly dengue fever. |
So, your bathing suits are packed and you're off to the airport to escape the deep freeze.
The last thing on your mind is the threat of malaria or dengue fever - two mosquito-borne health dangers now lurking in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic, in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and in Kingston, Jamaica and Cuba.
Chances are you're oblivious to these hazards - all of them red-flagged by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Dr. David Colby, director of travel medicine for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, puts the blame for such oblivion on the travel industry.
"I don't think travel agents take enough responsibility for telling people they should really check with their doctor to see if there's anything they need to do, relevant to their trip. Travel agents aren't likely to mention the need for shots because they'd be afraid somebody might not book a trip," he said.
But Nicole Bedard, manager of Advantage Elgin Travel and Cruises in St. Thomas, said in a case such as the Dominican Republic (from which three Canadians have recently returned with malaria), she believes most travel agents would offer that information.
Bedard was unaware cautions have also been issued due to high rates of dengue fever - a severe flu-like illness - in Puerto Vallarta and in Kingston and Cuba.
She said the federal government should do a better job of informing travel agencies.
That's not the issue, said Michael Pepper, president of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario.
"It's the travel agency's responsibility to find out if there's an advisory," he said.
"Travel agencies can subscribe to a service that informs them of updated advisories every day, around the world, and it is their duty to keep customers informed."
While vaccinations are available to fight deadly malaria, there's no drug or shot available in Canada to battle less serious, but sometimes deadly dengue fever.
Travellers are urged to use mosquito repellent containing DEET and cover up if daytime mosquitoes are heavy.
Malaria is generally caused by night-biting mosquitoes.
TRAVEL TIPS
- Consult your doctor or a travel clinic six to eight weeks before your trip to learn if shots, drugs or other measures are recommended.
- Use insect repellent with the ingredient DEET to prevent mosquito and tick bites.
- If you feel ill after you get back (some symptoms may not show up for months), tell your doctor where you've been. |
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