South America (tropic)

Venezuela

Venezuela is a middle-income country with a well-developed transportation infrastructure. Scheduled air service and good all-weather roads, although sometimes poorly marked and congested around urban centers, connect major cities and all regions of the country. Venezuela's tourism infrastructure varies in quality according to location and price. The capital city is Caracas.

CRIME: Most crime is economically motivated. Pickpockets concentrate in and around crowded bus and subway stations, especially the area around "Parque Simon Bolivar," near the "Capitolio" area in downtown Caracas. The "barrios" or "ranchitos" (the poor neighborhoods of tin-roofed brick homes that cover the hills around Caracas) and isolated urban parks can be very dangerous. These include the "El Calvario" section of the El Silencio area in Caracas, the "23 de Enero" slum area in the Catia area of Caracas, and most areas within the sprawling neighborhood known as Petare in eastern Caracas.

Most criminals are armed with guns or knives and will use force. There have been cases of theft from hotel rooms and safe deposit boxes, and theft of unattended valuables on the beach and from rental cars parked near isolated areas or on city streets.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical care in Caracas is good at private hospitals and clinics. Cash payment is usually demanded. Most hospitals and clinics, however, accept credit cards. In rural areas outside of Caracas, physicians and medical supplies may be scarce.

Arthropodborne diseases:

• Malaria
• Chagas disease
• Leishmaniasis
• Yellow fever in the forests

We recommend to prevent Arthropodborne diseases:

• 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:

• Travellers diarrhoea
• Hepatitis A
• Amoebiasis

Other diseases:

• Hepatitis B
• Schistosomiasis ( bilharziasis)

Vaccinations recommended;

• Yellow fever if visiting is planned to areas with yellow fever. And when entering from a yellow fever endemic region.
• Hepatitis A or Immune Globulin
• Hepatitis B or Immune Globulin
• Typhoid fever - vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region.
• Rabies - if exposed to wild or domestic animals
• A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within th last 10 years.

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 chloroquine as malaria prophylaxis in rural areas of Apure, Amazonas, Barinas, Bolívar,Sucre and Táchira states. Mefloquine is recommended in the areas of Amazonas (Atabapo), Bolívar, (Cedeno, Gran Sabana, Raul Leoni, Sifontes and Sucre) og Delta Amacuro (Antonia Diaz, Casacoima and Pedernales (chloroquine resistance).

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

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment. All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.