Iguazo falls

[ManukaS]

Does anyone know the situation regarding yellow fever jabs here?  We are going to the Antarctic in 2021 and would like to add a side trip to the Falls.  As I am over 70, the jab is not advised.  Can I go without it?

 

[kathynorth]

It may be wise to ask this question when you are a bit closer to your cruise date. We traveled to Ecuador, Peru and Galapagos 3 yrs ago. My doctor said the yellow fever shot was not necessary, but the travel clinic my husband went he should get it. We took a SA cruise this past Dec (with side trip to Iguazu) and we didn't need any updated shots. Your doctor is probably the best person to ask about this. 

[Trend]

Once you have the shots you are good for life.

We did this trip last Dec and our travel Dr felt especially the fall we needed it.

We are both late 60’s glad we did it as lots of bugs in heat.

[Lunenburg]

My spouse was over 70 when he had his yellow fever shot with no ill effects.  There is probably just as much risk from Dengue as Yellow Fever around Iguazu

If you cover up well and use lots of repellant, you will most likely be fine. The mosquito that transmits yellow fever and dengue  is most active during the day especially at dawn and dusk.

[Trend]

That is when you are active, just saying used bug spray covered up but bite go through as it is incredibly hot and humid there.

[Lunenburg]

4 hours ago, Trend said:

That is when you are active, just saying used bug spray covered up but bite go through as it is incredibly hot and humid there.

Yes, it depends when you go.  We were there in March and it was pleasant, not all that hot and almost no bugs,  but over the summer - Dec to Feb it can be very hot and humid.

[Omega1]

We went to a specialist travel clinic two days ago and after completing a lengthy questionnaire the outcome was that a yellow fever vaccination was not recommended. We are travelling to Iguazu and coastal Brazil in November, both in our mid 60’s with no relevant health conditions ie vaccine contraindications. The critical question seemed to relate to our ability to cover up and spray up - thereby lessening the risk. Apparently, the risk algorithm is changing every few months as the Brazilian national vaccination programme starts to have an impact. Anti- malarials also not advised as the risk is categorised as ‘low to no’.

[Trend]

Very interesting as we are mid 60’s and went last Christmas, cruise stops in Brazil and a post trip for a day to the falls.

Went to a travel clinic we use in our Dr. Office with a Dr travel specialist and her advise is better to be safe that sorry as if you travel elsewhere after a Brazil stamp for 6=12 months they can refuse your entry. With the card showing you have the vaccine no worries for entry.

 

 

[Lunenburg]

Just some background info.  I had not known about the connection to monkeys. 

 

The first deaths of humans in Sao Paulo occurred in 2016. and 2,245 cases of the disease have been confirmed, with 764 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

Another facet of the problem is the infection of monkeys by the same mosquitoes that transmit the virus to humans. In the carcasses of more than 10,000 monkeys found in forests and parks, (mainly howler monkeys, marmosets and capuchins)  yellow fever virus was detected in 3,403, with more than 90% of the dead monkeys believed to be brown howler monkeys. The species is extremely susceptible to yellow fever and troops of more than 80 monkeys were entirely destroyed from yellow fever in Horto Florestal, a nature reserve in the north of Sao Paulo city in late 2017.

[Trend]

Wow did not know that.

We were there in Early January.

Lots of monkeys around and people were warn not to get close but it is amazing how some don’t listen.

[powell]

We had the same issue and, as my husband as various health issues, we decided to cancel Iguazu Falls and Rio.  He felt that, as amazing as the FAlls would be, it was not worth the worry of having the jab, especially as someone here in the UK, with health issues,  passed away after having the jab.  You have to make the decision yourself.

[Trend]

You need to consult with your Dr as we both had underlying health issues and I usually have reactions and got none.

 

[Omega1]

Just to add another dimension, our friends have been to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for a consultation. The message was, if you don’t have the vaccination, don’t go. The advantages far outweigh the risks. Back to square one in the decision making.

[Trend]

Wise advise as they say ounce of prevention ....

[AryMay]

My husband and I were going through the same indecision at this time last year. We had added a trip to Iguazu Falls at the end of our South America/Antarctica cruise and at the time we booked, the falls were not included in the area that the CDC recommended for YF vaccines.

 

However...as we got closer to our cruise, the map changed. We are both over 60 and I worried about getting the shot after reading the possible side effects AND I hated to pay the high cost since we would only be in the affected area for a couple of days.

 

In the end, we went to a travel clinic and they convinced us to have the vaccine. Once the decision was made and the bill paid, I was glad we got the shots. We only spotted one mosquito while we were at the falls so I'm pretty sure we could have got by without the vaccine, but it was nice to have the peace of mind that we were protected. Also since the vaccines are good for life, now we don't need to even think about whether a country requires the vaccine when planning future travel.

 

As a side note...covering up or using mosquito spray would not have been a good alternative...especially for me. The heat and humidity at Iguazu Falls was pretty much unbearable. I don't handle heat well anyway, but this was over the top. Any insect repellent would have been "sweated off" within a few minutes. And if I would have tried to cover up with long sleeves or long pants, I'm pretty sure I would have been dead from a heat stroke before lunch time. 😏 

[Trend]

Agreed

[Lunenburg]

Very much depends on the time of year. I wore a raincoat and was not hot in April, This shows some of the folk at the beginning of the Falls - from T shirts to jackets. Closer to the Falls it was considerably cooler and wet so almost everyone had a raincoat on.

Edited September 11, 2019 by Lunenburg

[Trend]

Yes we were there in early January and it was a steam bath and I love the heat

[CCWineLover]

Wonderful pictures!  We are headed there in early January 2020 - will enjoy our "steam bath" !

[austinetc]

There are two subjects: Do you need the shot or waiver, and will you be let into the region without one or the other.  For the first, The CDC has an exhaustive web site discussing the subject.  Bottom line, they recommend the shot for the falls but have provisos based on age.   https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/yf.html

 

For the second, I was in Bolivia in March and our tour group recommended that we either get the shot or get a doctor's waiver.  I got the shot (aged 65) and had no ill effects.  (Alarmingly, I was told that I could have a reaction as long as 21 days after the shot.)  As it happened we never entered the eastern part of Bolivia where our documentation would have (probably) been checked.  This bummed me out a bit because the shot was expensive ($240).  I'm going to the falls next month, where I kinda hope they check so the cost won't be in vain.  But we were told in Bolivia that the situation is fluid.  One never knows whether they will check or not, so I'm not sure that prior experience is a valid source of knowledge.  

[Lunenburg]

5 hours ago, austinetc said:

 I'm going to the falls next month, where I kinda hope they check so the cost won't be in vain.  

It is only the country you go to after visiting Brazil that care whether you have had a yellow fever shot, Brazil will not check going in. Most of Africa requires it for entry from Brazil but the US does not. I knew of one person who was flying back to the US from Brazil with a stop in Costa Rica but they would not let him on the flight as he did not have  a yellow fever certificate and Costa Rica requires it. Even 12 hours in a Brazil airport required the certificate.

[Trend]

Took the words out of my mouth. Last year getting the shot I was 65 and DH was 68 .

I react to most shots and had no problem.