Immunisations

Medical advice has been obtained from ‘Minding Your Health Abroad’ (MASTA), a U.K. Travel Clinic and the Foreign Office.

The following immunisations are essential:

The following immunisations should be considered:

The decision as to which of the immunisations under the considered column guests should have needs to be taken in consultation with their doctor.

The first immunisation needs to be Yellow Fever which must be organised at least 6 weeks in advance of travel.

Malaria

There is a high risk of contracting malaria in the areas guests are visiting, especially in Dar-es-Salaam and Zanzibar. Malaria is a dangerous disease that is spread by mosquitoes that bite between dusk and dawn. The best way of preventing malaria is not to get bitten. Covering arms and legs, and wearing socks during the hours of darkness helps, with Mosiguard or similar, applied to exposed parts. You can now purchase wrist bands impregnated with Mosiguard for the more fashion conscious guests!

Antimalarial drugs need to be taken. It is important to consult your doctor to find out which is most suitable for you. The three main drugs are:

Doxycycline 100mg Take 1 capsule/tablet daily
Take with or after food with plenty of cool fluid. Do not lie down for at least one hour after taking the capsule/tablet. Start taking the tablets 2 days before leaving for Tanzania and continue them while you are there and for 4 weeks on your return. It is very important not to miss a dose. Rarely, this drug can make the skin sensitive to sunlight. A high factor sunscreen may help prevent this. Doxycycline can precipitate vaginal candidiasis (thrush).

Malarone 250mg atovaquone/100ml produanil Take 1 tablet daily
Take with food or a milky drink at the same time each day. You should start these tablets 1-2 days before leaving for Tanzania and continue them regularly for 1 week on your return. In the U.K., Malarone is licensed for use on trips up to 28 days, yet safety studies have shown no problems with 6 months use.

Mefloquine (larium) 250mg Take 1 tablet weekly
Mefloquine is not suitable for everybody, especially those with a history of mental illness or depression, therefore its use MUST be discussed with your doctor. You should start these tablets at least 1 week (preferably 2-3 weeks) before leaving for Tanzania and continue them regularly for 4 weeks on your return.