More info for Dr. Parks

[dadt]

I am not sure I posted the addtional information correctly. It posted as a member's comments on my original post.

So, here it is again:

My conference is in Cairo in late October. So, two-three days at a 5 star hotel for the conference with visits to standard sightseeing venues.  I believe we fly to Luxor and then  board a small ship to cruise the Nile River - stopping at other sites along the way. I am opting to take a side trip to Abu Simbel before returning. Is that what you needed to know? I am female and traveling alone. I am hoping to meet Dr. Hawass (famed Egyptologist) and if he offers to take us to any "off the menu" sites personally, I want to be prepared. :)
Thank you.
debra

[dadt]

Thank you Dr. Parks.  Your advice and information are very much appreciated.

debra

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Dear Debra,

For your conference and the part of your trip when you are staying in the 5-star hotel, you will be in "developed world" conditions. And, for the excursions and "off the menu" parts of your trip, you in and of our "developing world" conditions.

The travel medicine part of your pre-travel preparations are important; but, you must remember that road safety, wearing a seat belt, and personal safety are equally or more important to ensuring that you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Vaccinations that are recommended for Egypt:

Typhoid

Hepatitis A (3 injections in the series over six months, over 90 % immunity after the first two injections)

Polio (one time booster recommended for adults)

Tetanus-diphtheria (recommended for travelers, given once every 10 years).

Medications: Remember to bring your usual medications and consider bringing an extra prescription as a back-up in the event that you lose your medications. It is a usual practice to bring medications with you to self-treat traveler's diarrhea (azythromycin and ciprofloxacin are commonly prescribed along with immodium). Always carry your prescription medications in your carry-on luggage (in the event that you become separated from your luggage).

Yellow Fever (Required for travelers arriving from a yellow-fever-infected area in Africa or the Americas.) http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-YellowFever.aspx; see list of countries below.

There is very little to now risk of malaria in Egypt.

Avoid contact with raw or under-cooked poultry. There have been cases of Avian influenza in Egypt. There is thought to be very, very low risk (if any) of human-to-human transmission. All of the cases in Egypt were in people with close contact with raw poultry.

You should strongly consider finding a travel medicine clinic near where you live so that you can sit down with a medical provider and discuss your itinerary, required vaccinations, recommended medications to take with you (for example, antibiotics for traveler's diarrhea), food and water precautions, road safety, etc.

Travel clinic locations:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentTravelClinics.aspx

Other links:
http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/africa/egypt.php
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx

Please feel free to ask additional questions.

~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers entering Egypt who arrive from:
Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Prencipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan (south of latitude 15 N), Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia

Americas: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela

Caribbean: Trinidad and Tobago