Health Concerns For "Exotic" River Cruises

[Di Princess]

You brought Coca leaves home?! What about agriculture inspection/declaration or drug enforcement? You do know Coca leaves have Cocaine in them?

 

Right on, Betty!

 

I think they are still in the bottom of an old suitcase. I did not get a particular high or hit from the leaves. I shall go hunt them up. ;)

[Hydrokitty]

When we went to Alaska the mosquito warnings were so dire ("they carry off small children!") that we bought Head Nets. These were very effective. Checking on Amazon I see one that claims to work on No-See-Ums -- this should be even more effective. You do look like a dork [and I have pictures to prove it] but they work!

 

Mosquitos in Alaska are in a class of their own!!! I used Deep Woods Off and it works for me very well, although apparently I'm not as tasty as some.

[Di Princess]

I was in AK a few years ago and had heard that the Mozzies are as big as birds. It was September (last Princess cruise of the season).

I didn't see one critter. Just saw a Linx at Midnight, sleanking along in front of the lodge and just looking me over, never slowed down nor stopped but walked slowly. Where was my camera? Inside the lodge, charging. Duh. :eek:

[Hydrokitty]

I was in AK a few years ago and had heard that the Mozzies are as big as birds. It was September (last Princess cruise of the season).

I didn't see one critter. Just saw a Linx at Midnight, sleanking along in front of the lodge and just looking me over, never slowed down nor stopped but walked slowly. Where was my camera? Inside the lodge, charging. Duh. :eek:[/quote)

 

I understand mozzies are Alaska's state bird.....YOU SAW a LYNX??? You lucky ducky...all I saw was a chipmunk!!!

[Hoyaheel]

We saw a lynx in AK too! We visited family who were living outside Fairbanks at the time and then drove to Anchorage to pick up a cruise. We took the "long" route and saw tons of wildlife - including a lynx who crossed the road right in front of us!

[Hydrokitty]

We saw a lynx in AK too! We visited family who were living outside Fairbanks at the time and then drove to Anchorage to pick up a cruise. We took the "long" route and saw tons of wildlife - including a lynx who crossed the road right in front of us!

 

We flew into Fairbanks too and even spent the day at Denali NP....that's where we saw the chipmunk and mosquitos you could saddle and ride...then took the train to Anchorage to pick up the cruise..but I did see a glacier calve.....and I got it on film...so that kind of makes up for the wildlife. :D

[Karennella]

Do you Americans have to get a yellow fever vaccination for Sth America? Our government requires it for a lot of areas and then my doctor recommended so many other things that I should be fully covered for any Asian trips in the future! Ironically the only holiday I have had ruined by illness was in Hawaii this year, when I got a horrible coughing virus that ended up giving me the first bout of bronchitis I have ever had. But for South America, the combination of visas and vaccinations cost the two of us about $US800!

[Hoyaheel]

I think Brazil requires yellow fever, not sure about other countries. Check the country websites for their requirements.

 

We actually got yellow fever vaccinations a few years back prior to a trip to Central America (we did a Panama Canal cruise, which wouldn't require them really because most people aren't in yellow fever areas, but we knew we'd be doing a land trip the following year so we just went ahead and got them - and then I needed it for a trip to Tanzania for work) Sadly I lost my yellow fever card (proof of vaccine) on a trip to China. Our next cruise will be in Asia, but my reading of the embassy websites so far is that it won't be required of us unless we've been in one of the named countries immediately prior to the trip. (and for me, it'll be the same price to get a new vaccination as a replacement card)

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Brazil itself doesn't require a Yellow Fever vaccination. But if you're travelling to an endemic area, like the Amazon basin, then many countries require the vaccination if you enter their country later. We got it when we were cruising the coast of Brazil, but no one ever looked at the certificates, including Barbados which claimed to demand it for those who have been to Brazil. Many countries in Asia also demand it if you have been to an affected country recently. That is my understanding.

 

Having got a number of vaccinations through a travel medicine specialist last year for a trip to SE Asia, we aren't doing anything special for Egypt this year. Apparently the local drug for "traveller's diarrhea" is better than any antibiotic that you can bring with you.

Edited July 5, 2015 by Wendy The Wanderer

[Hydrokitty]

 

Having got a number of vaccinations through a travel medicine specialist last year for a trip to SE Asia, we aren't doing anything special for Egypt this year. Apparently the local drug for "traveller's diarrhea" is better than any antibiotic that you can bring with you.

 

This is true....drug is called Antinal and its available in every drug store without RX....it's cheap and many hotels and tour guides carry it with them and will give it to you if you ask. The reason it works better than anything purchased in US and brought with you is that Antinal is formulated to kill the Nile bacteria that cause the diarrhea. It works quite fast and doesn't seem to have any harsh side effects for most people. One thing that's very important and I will explain how I know this for a fact: All the web sites tell you to drink bottled water and ONLY bottled water, including for brushing your teeth. You must also keep your mouth shut in the shower! But here's the really important tip: NEVER BUY BOTTLED WATER FROM A STREET VENDOR!!!! I was waiting outside the Egyptian Museum for DH and actually watched a man with a plastic garbage bag full of empty water bottles start to fill them from the lawn sprinkler!!! The economy in Egypt wasn't good then and it's even worse now so you KNOW he's going to sell them to unsuspecting tourists....and the water in the sprinkler is coming directly from the Nile. If traveling on your own, without a tour group, ask for the bottled water to be opened at your table in front of you. If it doesn't make that ssssssss sound when the cap seal is broken, don't drink it!! And don't forget about the ice cubes.....you can have a nice cold drink when you get home! I told our guide about the guy filling water bottles from the sprinkler and he just nodded and said he'll glue the tops on before selling them so they do not appear to have been opened. These are desperate times in Egypt and desperate people will do things they wouldn't ordinarily do.

Edited July 5, 2015 by Hydrokitty

[ewizabeff]

I'm not sure this is applicable to bottled water concerns abroad. A filtered water bottle would NOT filter out bacteria (which is only killed by heat), and that is the main concern when traveling abroad.

[Hydrokitty]

I'm not sure this is applicable to bottled water concerns abroad. A filtered water bottle would NOT filter out bacteria (which is only killed by heat), and that is the main concern when traveling abroad.

 

Yup...and you REALLY don't want to be drinking water from the Nile River!!! I've heard about this report as well, and it's primarily water in the US where tap water is cleaner than some bottled water....In places like Egypt I would much rather take my chance with the bottled water than the tap. I respect Di's opinion and research, but I will continue to advise people who ask me NOT to drink any tap water in third world countries. and you're 100% right about the filtered water bottle. There are pills you can buy from places like Magellan to purify the water before you drink it, including an expensive ultra-violet coil that didn't work...but the safest thing of all is not to drink it at all.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Guidelines Reminder:

 

ALL CAPS

Typing in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is considering shouting by many, so please double check your caps lock key before posting.

 

Rich Text & Graphic Images

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This also applies to the use of bolding as a general setting. Bolding is another form of shouting.

[CPT Trips]

Guidelines Reminder:

 

ALL CAPS

Typing in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is considering shouting by many, so please double check your caps lock key before posting.

 

Rich Text & Graphic Images

The use of these features on our message boards can greatly enhance your online Cruise Board experiences. However, postings that are difficult to read, too BIG or too small, too light in color, etc., may be returned to you so that you may repost.

 

This also applies to the use of bolding as a general setting. Bolding is another form of shouting.

 

Thank you, that was painful. :eek:

 

May I ask whether posting what appeared to be an entire web page is also inappropriate?

[Hydrokitty]

Thank you, that was painful. :eek:

 

May I ask whether posting what appeared to be an entire web page is also inappropriate?

 

Didn't mean it to be shouting....only emphasis addressing importance of the subject.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Didn't mean it to be shouting....only emphasis addressing importance of the subject.

 

It had nothing to do with you. There was a post set in Black color and bold for no reason that I removed. Trying to get that poster's attention not to do this.

[Hydrokitty]

Thanks for clarifying that Jazz...I never saw the offending post and thought it was aimed at me since I was the only one with caps in my post. I feel better now. :)

[Host Jazzbeau]

Caps -- or bold, or underlining -- are appropriate for emphasis. But it's not acceptable to set EVERY word of every post in bold. That's the behavior I'm trying to change. ;)

[Hydrokitty]

You do a great job too....it isn't easy keeping all of us opinionated travel "experts" in line!!! :D