Title – Encephalitis toll approaches 130Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 17th August 2009
Japanese encephalitis is one of those vaccinations which some travellers ‘sacrifice’ in order to make a ‘cost saving’. It is a rare disease in travellers, which is why some people choose not to get the vaccination; which is not available for free on the NHS.
However it is important that cost is not a factor in this decision making process.
Every time you travel you need to carry out a travel risk assessment and ‘cost’ should never be a factor in this equation. Sensible risk reduction is always cost effective, as the consequences of ignoring risk can often not be calculated purely in monetary terms.
In regard to the risk assessment for Japanese encephalitis, there are a number of different factors to take into account; the region you are travelling to; the type of activities you intend to take part in; rural or urban travel; the type of accommodation you will using; if you will be staying, working or visiting farms; the duration of your stay in the area; the time of year; and recent ‘outbreaks’ in the region.
This latest outbreak in a poor and remote part of India (Uttar Pradesh) is certainly something that any traveller to the region should be aware of. It makes vaccination of anyone travelling to the area, a fundamental part of the risk assessment process; tightening up on mosquito bite avoidance measures, will also help considerably.
At
Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.Date – 17th August 2009
Japanese encephalitis is one of those vaccinations which some travellers ‘sacrifice’ in order to make a ‘cost saving’. It is a rare disease in travellers, which is why some people choose not to get the vaccination; which is not available for free on the NHS.
However it is important that cost is not a factor in this decision making process.
Every time you travel you need to carry out a travel risk assessment and ‘cost’ should never be a factor in this equation. Sensible risk reduction is always cost effective, as the consequences of ignoring risk can often not be calculated purely in monetary terms.
In regard to the risk assessment for Japanese encephalitis, there are a number of different factors to take into account; the region you are travelling to; the type of activities you intend to take part in; rural or urban travel; the type of accommodation you will using; if you will be staying, working or visiting farms; the duration of your stay in the area; the time of year; and recent ‘outbreaks’ in the region.
This latest outbreak in a poor and remote part of India (Uttar Pradesh) is certainly something that any traveller to the region should be aware of. It makes vaccination of anyone travelling to the area, a fundamental part of the risk assessment process; tightening up on mosquito bite avoidance measures, will also help considerably.
At
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