South Africa

Swaziland

Swaziland is a small developing nation in southern Africa. Several well-developed facilities for tourism are available. The capital is Mbabane.

CRIME : Petty street crime, primarily theft of money and personal property, occurs with some frequency. Since mid-1994, occasional armed hijacking of automobiles has taken place in Manzini and, less frequently, in Mbabane and outlying areas of Swaziland.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities are limited throughout Swaziland. The Mbabane Clinic in the capital, though small, is well-equipped and well-staffed for minor procedures. For advanced care, visitors often choose to go to South Africa where up-to-date facilities and specialists may be found. A helipad is available at the Mbabane Clinic, and medical evacuation via fixed-wing aircraft is available from Matsapha Airport. Most prescription drugs are available or may be imported from South Africa. Quantities of prescription drugs for personal use may be brought into the country. While not necessary, a doctor's note describing the medication may be helpful if questioned by authorities.

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

Arthropodborne diseases:

• Epidemic typhus
• Malaria in all lowlands
• Relapsing fever
• Rift Valley fever

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 in risk areas (chloroquine resistance).

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