South Africa

Lesotho

Lesotho is an extremely mountainous developing country completely surrounded by the country of South Africa. Facilities for tourists are limited. The capital, Maseru, is at 5000 feet (1500M) above sea level, and the mountains reach to 11,400 feet (3500M). A limited number of restaurants are available in Maseru. Tap water is not reliably potable.

CRIME : Lesotho's high unemployment, aggravated by the return of large numbers of unemployed miners from South Africa, has contributed to an increasing number of armed robberies, break-ins, and carjackings. This occurs primarily in the capital city of Maseru, but it can occur elsewhere as well.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities are minimal. Many medicines are unavailable, and travellers who take prescription medication should bring their own medicine. There are no reliable ambulance services. Good medical care is available in Bloemfontein, South Africa, 90 miles to the west of Maseru.

More than 25 mill. people are infected by HIV in the subsaharian Africa.

Arthropodborne diseases:

• Epidemic typhus
• Malaria
• Plague
• Relapsing fever
• Rift Valley fever
• Trypanosomiasis

We recommend:

• Usage of long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects
• Usage of insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%–35% strength for adults and 6%–10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
• Usage of a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin.
• Staying and sleeping in air-conditioned houses

Water- and foodborne diseases:

• Amoebiasis
• ETEC (E.coli)
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid fever

Other diseases:

• Hepatitis B
• HIV
• Schistosomiasis ( bilharziasis )

Vaccinations we recommend:

• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
• Hepatitis B or immune globulin (IG)
• Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
• Typhoid vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region.
• booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within th last 10 years.
• Yellow fever when arriving from a destination where yellow fever occurs

Stay healthy:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Drink only boiled water, or water and carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans
• Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it
• Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
• Prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
• Do not travel at night
• Trafic accidents are frequent, be careful
• Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
• Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Use mefloquine as malaria prophylaxis from October to May

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Updated 21-Jul-2003 • İtraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

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