Travel health information

Travel Health is something that all Himalayan Trails travellers should consider before heading off on any adventure around the world.

We suggest these places listed below, depending on which country you are based in. We believe that each of these will provide you with the most up to date, comprehensive & relevant information regarding travel health that is available.

This advice will not only guarantee you piece of mind while you travel with us but also give you suggestions on any vaccinations that may be needed before you go.

• Australia: http://www.travelvax.com.au
• New Zealand: http://www.traveldoctor.co.nz
• UK: http://www.travelhealth.co.uk
• USA: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
• Denmark: http://www.rejseklinikken.dk/

Vaccinations
It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain any vaccinations, precautionary or preventative medicines for the countries you are visiting – or any which may be required by your home country upon your return. To find out which, if any, vaccinations are mandatory or recommended for your destination contact your local doctor, Immunisation Centre or Medical Centre for up-to-date information.

If you need to arrange vaccinations or a supply of preventative medicine (e.g. Malaria tablets), you should contact your doctor at least two months before you depart. Some inoculations require more than one visit and can take several weeks to administer.

CARRY YOUR CERTIFICATE
You should be issued with an International Certificate of Vaccination for each vaccination. Always carry these with you on your travels; they could provide essential information for doctors in the event that you fall ill whilst travelling.

Malaria
You generally don’t need to worry much about Malaria in the Himalayas, it only occurs vary rarely and only in the low land of Nepal, the Terai.
No malaria tablets guarantee complete protection. The most effective protection against malaria is to avoid being bitten. Mosquitoes mostly bite at dusk and dawn so one of the best ways to minimise the chance of being bitten is to wear long trousers, long sleeves and socks at these times. You should take a good insect repellent and apply it liberally. Repellents with a high concentration of DEET (at least 35%) are generally considered the most effective.

Diarrhoea
Sampling the local food and drink is often one of the highlights of travelling. In most cases the food is freshly prepared for you and is completely safe to eat, however it will probably contain ingredients that you are not familiar with or may be prepared in a different way. This change in diet is one of the most common causes of travellers’ diarrhoea.

You can reduce the likelihood of suffering diarrhoea if you treat food and drink with caution – at least in the early stages of your travels. In almost every country it is possible to buy bottled water. This is usually very cheap and a lot more convenient than trying to purify or filter tap water.
Beware of ice in drinks and make sure you wash your hands frequently. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a bout of “Delhi Belly” you should be careful not to become dehydrated.
In general we do not recommend the use of anti-diarrhoea pills as in most cases they do not cure the problem, they merely put it on hold. However, there are of course situations where blocking up’ may be desirable, for instance if you are embarking on a long bus ride.
Diarrhoea which lasts for longer than 48-72 hours, shows signs of blood or mucus or which is concurrent with other symptoms, such as a headache or high temperature, should always be taken seriously.

Dehydration
In deserts, in the tropics and at high altitude, your body can lose a lot of water. Dehydration also occurs when you are suffering from diarrhoea. The best way to avoid dehydration is to drink plenty of fluids. In most countries you can obtain “rehydration salts” or “electrolyte solution”. Although these do not taste great, they restore the salts lost by your body. You can also make your own rehydration mixture by adding 4 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt to one litre of clean water.

Sunstroke / Heatstroke
It is easy to underestimate the strength of the sun – particularly when you are busy sightseeing. Until you have become acclimatised you should try not to overdo it and if you go out during the hotter parts of the day, cover up and wear a hat (preferably wide-brimmed).
Use a sun cream or sun block that is appropriate for your skin type and reapply often. Drink plenty of fluids – far more than you would normally do at home.

Personal Medical Kits
It is up to you to bring along a personal supply of basic medical items like plasters, aspirin, insect repellent etc. In areas of limited or suspect medical facilities, some travellers also like to take their own emergency medical kit containing needles, syringes and other items which can be used by the local medical staff in case of accident or illness.

Existing Medical Conditions
All persons joining our tours are assumed to be in good health and to have a sufficient level of fitness to complete their chosen itinerary. If you have an existing medical condition or disability you must make this known at the time of booking. If accepted onto the tour, you must also make your condition known to your trek or tour guide.