Red Warning Level 3:<\/span><\/span> Avoid all non-essential travel<\/h3>\nGuinea <\/b>– Ebola<\/strong><\/p>\nThey had a serious outbreak earlier in 2021.<\/a> Actually, cases have reduced significantly and the US has just removed their travel restriction which required travelers coming from Guinea to enter the US via 6 main airports only. Caution is still very much advised though if traveling in the country.<\/p>\nVenezuela – Infrastructure<\/b><\/p>\n
Not a specific disease caution here, just a warning that their healthcare infrastructure is breaking down<\/a> and if you are taken ill here you may not be able to access treatment. One to think about if you ever have crew on a layover here.<\/p>\nAmber Warning<\/span> Level 2: Extra caution<\/h3>\nFiji – <\/b>Leptospirosis<\/strong><\/p>\nThis really prevalent in Fiji at the moment, particularly rural areas. It is caused by a bacteria spread around by animal pee, and can get into water and soil and live there for months. The main guidance is to avoid swimming or wading in water that could have had infected animals in it. Wear protective clothing and footwear and cover any cuts and scratches with waterproof bandages.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ECvGEVsVAAA8yMh-1024x1024.jpg\")
Because people often poke dead rats<\/p><\/div>\n
Hait<\/b>i – Rabies<\/strong><\/p>\nHaiti currently has a big problem with rabid dogs. The bigger issue is that there is an extremely limited supply of treatment drugs in Haiti, so the recommendation is to get vaccinated before you head there.<\/p>\n
Avoid dogs, and cats for that matter – even the cute baby ones. You can catch it if you are bitten, scratched or even licked, and treatment is only effective if administered early. Once symptoms present themselves it is often fatal. Plus, getting bitten by anything is never pleasant.<\/p>\n
Polio – <\/b>Africa and Asia<\/strong><\/p>\nEveryone should be vaccinated against this. If you are not, get vaccinated (or don\u2019t travel) because this is continues to be very prevalent in African countries and there is always a risk.<\/p>\n
Nigeria – Yellow Fever<\/b><\/p>\n
Consider getting vaccinated if you head here regularly, and try to prevent mosquito bites (also, because they carry loads of horrid stuff).<\/p>\n
International flight crew generally are required to have had Yellow Fever Vaccinations – if you have not then take care because some countries will not allow crew (anyone) to enter who does not have a vaccination booklet if they have traveled to a Yellow Fever region recently.<\/p>\n
What else to watch out for<\/h3>\nMalaria<\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Mozzie.jpg\")
This fellow is to blame for a lot of the stuff out there<\/p><\/div>\n
Malaria is a parasite carried around by mosquitos. There are actually four types of it, and it is in a lot of places!<\/p>\n
The big risk here is it can take a while for symptoms to show. They reckon you\u2019re most likely to have symptoms between 10 days and 4 weeks<\/strong> from being infected, but it could take as long as a year. The little beasties also like to loiter around in your liver, popping out at random times when you\u2019re run down, and so can cause recurring illness for as long as 4 years after infection.<\/p>\nWhere?<\/strong><\/p>\nAccording to the CDC it is found in warmer regions<\/strong>, which doesn\u2019t narrow it down an awful lot – basically anywhere hot and humid where there are places for mosquitoes to breed and grow. Just after rainy season is likely to be the worst, and rural areas will be more risky.<\/p>\nWe have borrowed the CDC map because it is easier than trying to list everywhere to watch out.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-14-at-10.53.31-AM.png\")
Mozzies generally don’t like cold or high altitude spots<\/p><\/div>\n
How to prevent it<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you are going to a Malaria riddled area then you can take preventative medicine, but watch out! Not many are approved for operating pilots because they can have some nasty side effects. Malarone is the most commonly approved (and generally has the least side effects) but we ain\u2019t no doctor so check with an AME<\/strong> from your licensing state before taking.<\/p>\nThe other option is to slather yourself in deet and wear long clothing to prevent the little nippers from getting at you in the first place.<\/p>\n
The Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Fever, sweats ad chills<\/li>\n
- Muscle ache<\/li>\n
- Nausea and sickness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So, basically generic symptoms of about a thousand other possible diseases.<\/p>\n
If you have been to a malaria area and are thinking \u201cI got chills, they\u2019re multiplying\u201d<\/strong>, don\u2019t write them off as a random cold – tell a doctor so you can get tested because it can get very serious!<\/p>\nDengue Fever<\/h4>\n
Another one to blame on the pesky mosquito<\/a>, Dengue is common in over 100 countries<\/strong>, and over 400 million people catch it every year, 100 million getting sick and 22,000 dying. Dengue Fever is Malaria\u2019s bigger, badder brother<\/strong>, and there is no specific treatment.<\/p>\nLike Malaria, there are also different strains of the virus meaning you can get different sorts, multiply times.<\/p>\n
They had a serious outbreak earlier in 2021.<\/a> Actually, cases have reduced significantly and the US has just removed their travel restriction which required travelers coming from Guinea to enter the US via 6 main airports only. Caution is still very much advised though if traveling in the country.<\/p>\n Venezuela – Infrastructure<\/b><\/p>\n Not a specific disease caution here, just a warning that their healthcare infrastructure is breaking down<\/a> and if you are taken ill here you may not be able to access treatment. One to think about if you ever have crew on a layover here.<\/p>\n Fiji – <\/b>Leptospirosis<\/strong><\/p>\n This really prevalent in Fiji at the moment, particularly rural areas. It is caused by a bacteria spread around by animal pee, and can get into water and soil and live there for months. The main guidance is to avoid swimming or wading in water that could have had infected animals in it. Wear protective clothing and footwear and cover any cuts and scratches with waterproof bandages.<\/p>\n Because people often poke dead rats<\/p><\/div>\n Hait<\/b>i – Rabies<\/strong><\/p>\n Haiti currently has a big problem with rabid dogs. The bigger issue is that there is an extremely limited supply of treatment drugs in Haiti, so the recommendation is to get vaccinated before you head there.<\/p>\n Avoid dogs, and cats for that matter – even the cute baby ones. You can catch it if you are bitten, scratched or even licked, and treatment is only effective if administered early. Once symptoms present themselves it is often fatal. Plus, getting bitten by anything is never pleasant.<\/p>\n Polio – <\/b>Africa and Asia<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone should be vaccinated against this. If you are not, get vaccinated (or don\u2019t travel) because this is continues to be very prevalent in African countries and there is always a risk.<\/p>\n Nigeria – Yellow Fever<\/b><\/p>\n Consider getting vaccinated if you head here regularly, and try to prevent mosquito bites (also, because they carry loads of horrid stuff).<\/p>\n International flight crew generally are required to have had Yellow Fever Vaccinations – if you have not then take care because some countries will not allow crew (anyone) to enter who does not have a vaccination booklet if they have traveled to a Yellow Fever region recently.<\/p>\n This fellow is to blame for a lot of the stuff out there<\/p><\/div>\n Malaria is a parasite carried around by mosquitos. There are actually four types of it, and it is in a lot of places!<\/p>\n The big risk here is it can take a while for symptoms to show. They reckon you\u2019re most likely to have symptoms between 10 days and 4 weeks<\/strong> from being infected, but it could take as long as a year. The little beasties also like to loiter around in your liver, popping out at random times when you\u2019re run down, and so can cause recurring illness for as long as 4 years after infection.<\/p>\n Where?<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the CDC it is found in warmer regions<\/strong>, which doesn\u2019t narrow it down an awful lot – basically anywhere hot and humid where there are places for mosquitoes to breed and grow. Just after rainy season is likely to be the worst, and rural areas will be more risky.<\/p>\n We have borrowed the CDC map because it is easier than trying to list everywhere to watch out.<\/p>\n Mozzies generally don’t like cold or high altitude spots<\/p><\/div>\n How to prevent it<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are going to a Malaria riddled area then you can take preventative medicine, but watch out! Not many are approved for operating pilots because they can have some nasty side effects. Malarone is the most commonly approved (and generally has the least side effects) but we ain\u2019t no doctor so check with an AME<\/strong> from your licensing state before taking.<\/p>\n The other option is to slather yourself in deet and wear long clothing to prevent the little nippers from getting at you in the first place.<\/p>\n The Symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n So, basically generic symptoms of about a thousand other possible diseases.<\/p>\n If you have been to a malaria area and are thinking \u201cI got chills, they\u2019re multiplying\u201d<\/strong>, don\u2019t write them off as a random cold – tell a doctor so you can get tested because it can get very serious!<\/p>\n Another one to blame on the pesky mosquito<\/a>, Dengue is common in over 100 countries<\/strong>, and over 400 million people catch it every year, 100 million getting sick and 22,000 dying. Dengue Fever is Malaria\u2019s bigger, badder brother<\/strong>, and there is no specific treatment.<\/p>\n Like Malaria, there are also different strains of the virus meaning you can get different sorts, multiply times.<\/p>\nAmber Warning<\/span> Level 2: Extra caution<\/h3>\n
What else to watch out for<\/h3>\n
Malaria<\/h4>\n
\n
Dengue Fever<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-14-at-11.03.29-AM.png\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-14-at-11.40.13-AM.png\")