VANCOUVER -- Travellers heading to Mexico and the Caribbean need to be aware these are areas which are endemic to hepatitis A and B. These liver-attacking viruses are spread either through contaminated food and water or thru contact with blood and bodily secretions. Although most people know these viruses can cause serious illness, less than half of Canadians heading to these areas bother to fully protect themselves.
ALLAN HORWOOD, TRAVELLING TO BELIZE, SAYS: "TO ME IT WAS AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE SURE I'M GETTING AS MANY VACCINES AS I NEEDED."
Allan Horwood is heading to a resort in Belize. He's making sure he's protected against hepatitis A as well as traveller's diarrhea.
ALLAN SAYS: "WE'RE GETTING MARRIED ON OUR TRAVELS AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY KIND OF ILLNESS."
BUT TOO MANY CANADIANS GO UNPROTECTED TO MEXICO AND THE CARIBBEAN, THINKING IF THEY STAY AWAY ICE CUBES AND WATER, THEY'LL AVOID CONTRACTING HEPATITUS AND OTHER SERIOUS DISEASES.
DR. ELLIOT MINTZ, FAMILY PHYSICIAN, SAYS: IT'S NOT JUST WATER OR ICE CUBES, IT'S UNPREPARED SEAFOOD, RAW SEAFOOD, SUSHI, IT'S POORLY COOKED FISH, PEOPLE GO SWIMMING OFF A FIVE STAR HOTEL AND THEY SWALLOW WATER LOADED WITH HEPATITUS A.
It was at a four and a half star resort in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, where Vicky Franzoi contracted Hep A.
VICKY FRANZOI SAYS: "I WAS SICK FOR SIX MONTHS, AND OUT OF THE SIX MONTHS, THREE MONTHS I WAS AWAY FROM WORK."
DR. MINTZ, SAYS: "YOU CANNOT BE 100% PROTECTED WITHOUT THE VACCINE."
There's now a single vaccine to protect against both hepatitus A as well as B, a much more serious infection that's spread through blood and bodily fluids that can lead to long-term liver damage.
DR. MINTZ: "IF YOU ONLY HAVE 3 WEEKS, YOU CAN GET A RAPID DOSING. THESE THREE SHOTS GIVE UP TO 99% PROTECTION AND THAT PROTECTION WILL LAST FOR 15 YEARS."
For those heading to the Dominican Republic, doctors also recommend other precautions.
DR. SUNI BORASTON, TRAVEL CLINIC, VAN. COASTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY: "RIGHT NOW THERE'S A RISK OF MALARIA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T LEFT THE RESORT AREA. THAT'S UNUSUAL, SO WE'RE GIVING THOSE TRAVELLERS ANTI-MALARIAL PILLS."
Dr. Boraston also recommends traveller's be up to date on their tetanus and diptheria shots, and take something along to prevent and treat diarrhea.
The hepatitis vaccines that are available now are long-lasting, so you can be protected for future trips as well. For more information, you can consult your family doctor or go the Travel Clinic. Right now there's a 2-week wait for appointments at the Vancouver clinic. Now, if you don't get vaccinated, you should know this: if you do contract hepatitis A or B while on vacation, symptoms like fatigue and jaundice often don't show up until weeks or months later, and during that time you can infect those around you.
Monday January 6, 2006
