With upcoming travel to South Africa quickly approaching, I have checked the CDC website and am looking into the vaccinations they recommend. We are doing a plains game & photo combo and I am questioning what vaccinations I really need. I have an appointment scheduled with a Travel Clinic with that specialty, but wanted to check to see what most people actually get.
Do I really need a Rabies and Hepatitis B vaccination?

Thanks in advance

I've done Hep A & B, Tetanus, and Yellow Fever; not rabies.

Last trip I tripped in the skinning shed and skinned my knee on the concrete floor (about the most septic envirinment on earth) and never got infected at all, so it must work.......

On my last trip, I had a physical done by a flight surgeon at the Naval Academy. He had blood titers done before deciding on the Hep. I did not need it. If you don't have close or intimate contact with the locals it is probably not needed.

I was also told the rabies was not needed. It's the same vaccine given if bitten and requires more than one shot. He said not to worry - take the shots only if bitten or exposed to a rabid animal and it is needed.

Yellow fever is not needed for SA. Malaria prophylaxis may be needed depending on area hunted.

quote:

Originally posted by wildfowl:
With upcoming travel to South Africa quickly approaching, I have checked the CDC website and am looking into the vaccinations they recommend. We are doing a plains game & photo combo and I am questioning what vaccinations I really need. I have an appointment scheduled with a Travel Clinic with that specialty, but wanted to check to see what most people actually get.
Do I really need a Rabies and Hepatitis B vaccination?

Thanks in advance

My doc, a flight surgeon, says to keep up hep a and b and tetnus regardless where you go. I also take doxy for malaria each time even though in seven trips to Africa, I have yet to see a mosquito. Tom

Wildfowl,

If you have been to the CDC website you do not need any further consultation. Get whatever they recommend.

Mark

Mark said it. Follow the guidance of CDC, not a bunch of AR posters.

BTW, I've had 'em all, including polio updates, Hep A & B and rabies. If you intend to handle dead animals or deal with local villagers, you are wise to ere on the side of caution. Ranch hunts in RSA are not the bush, however.

common since works well where are you going to be and what are the threats in the area. yellow fever is the only think I have ever taken. most of the rest are OK but your drinking bottle water and staying in a 5 start camp. you might need Malaia meds if you in an area where it's at

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
On my last trip, I had a physical done by a flight surgeon at the Naval Academy. He had blood titers done before deciding on the Hep. I did not need it. If you don't have close or intimate contact with the locals it is probably not needed.

**Keep in mind, I don't know what I am talking about**

I believe that if you got a blood test and it was determined that you "did not need" the Hep vaccine it was because you already had antibodies in your system. As I understand, antibodies mean that you have already been exposed to hepatitis(not infected, just exposed). So it sounds like you have already had "close" enough contact to the "locals"(food or water?)

My point is that it is worthwhile unless you are tested and already have the antibodies.

quote:

mean that you have already been exposed to hepatitis(not infected, just exposed). So it sounds like you have already had "close" enough contact to the "locals"(food or water?)

Nope - I had already had the vaccines while on active duty and immunity was high enough that I did not have to take it again. Point is don't just go to a clinic and ask for the injections listed by the CDC. There are other factors to consider.

Lion Hunter - some AR posters do know what they are talking about. Some are experienced health care practitioners, researchers, consultants, and teachers. The CDC is a general reference not necessarily the end all expert. There are too many other patient specific and other factors that should also be considered.

The best recommendation is learn as much as you can - then discuss with your personal or specialty physician.

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
Point is don't just go to a clinic and ask for the injections listed by the CDC. There are other factors to consider.

The best recommendation is learn as much as you can - then discuss with your personal or specialty physician.

I think it goes without saying that you don't want take vaccines that you have already had unless you are due for a booster. There is some danger in taking unneeded vaccines.

But you are correct about the list. It is just a guideline and is often overly cautious of just plain wrong. Very few doctors are up on this stuff so the best advice is to collect all the information that you can.

Most personal physicians know next to nothing about tropical medicine nor sub-Saharan African diseases, insects and pathogens. Few hunters are inclined to search for a tropical disease specialist. Yes, some M.D.s on AR have researched the subject matter for themselves and if they want to practice medicine over the internet then they should be willing to put M.D. behind their name. Different countries have unique issues. I've travelled and hunted in nine and I know of what I speak. Use CDC as the resource, as my M.D. hunting partners do.

Every African hunter should keep his "yellow card" with his passport and insure all entries are correctly entered by medical professionals.

I have to agree with Mike. Most people MD's included are not versed in what's necessary for Africa. If you find from the CDC that they recommend X,Y,Z for your destination and your personal MD has no problem giving those vaccinations to you I think you'd be stupid to not take them. Your playing Russian roulette with your health and perhaps your life.

Mark

I doon't know about where you live but here they have"travel clinics." They ask you where you're gong and they get on the computor to see what shots you need. It's much better than a personal doctor as this is their specialty.

I got rabies shots too although it wasn't recomended. I remember a buddy explaining his rabies treatments and it sounded like a good idea

I am a Medical doctor, and I did get all of them.

The rabies will likely be a problem as they are still short on the vaccine here.

The big reason to get the rabies series is it allows you the luxury of not having to get the rabies IgG serum right away to prevent rabies if you were bitten by an infected animal, which most of the time here is a bat, BTW.- Lots of times you never know you were bitten.

I suspect its not as big a deal to do the rabies series for a South Africa hunt, as likely a clinic could get what you need there- but you need to get started preferably within 24 hours for Rabies, not "when you get home" and thus, for the more remote locations, its a good idea.

I'm not going to debate the anti vaccine crowd here, IMHO they are misguided, and overinflate the risks of the vaccines. I put my money where my mouth is and get them all even if I think they are low risk. The CDC recommendations are basically a list of what is endemic in the area, as such a wise person would at least consider strongly what they recommend.

However, like all medicines there are contraindications, and you would be best talking with someone who is familiar with your health in general, and also a travel specialist (although most of them just read the CDC site for where you are going for guidance.) As an aside, the further in advance (within reason, as in a year) you get these, the better off you are.

crbutler-

Thanks for your informed contribution and sound advice.

Most of us who frequent the African bush on more then a casual safari, know someone or have personal experience with some sort of unpleasant health problem contracted while in the bush. RSA simply doesn't count. I have found myself educating medical personnel in travel clinics as to why I need specific vaccination updates because I've done my research.

I used a service called Passport Health. They research my travel locations, suggested vacinations (For RSA Hep A and tetanus) and provided a manual that included contact information for the US consulate and rated local medical facilities. They also provided recommendations for GI issues treatments and antibiotics.
http://www.passporthealthusa.com/

I am sure there are other travel services as well.

I got everything but the rabies and almost had a cause to regret that when a rabid honey badger attacked my tent for about five minutes at 3:00 AM and finally gave up. I don't know what would have happened if he'd gotten in, because, as you might imagine, I was on high alert with Betsy and my Eagle Tac light, but probably what happened to some of the camp staff who weren't as lucky. If I had missed, he would have nailed me.

They ended up driving three hours each way to Arusha to get their series.


Getting a rabies vaccination prior to leavng was something I never even considered.

Next time, I'll think about it seriously.