Health and Safety in South East Asia

By:Nick Wood

Mulling over a trip to the exotic delights of South East Asia? Good on you, it is a vibrant and fascinating location. Just take a few simple precautions and you will love it all!

South East Asia sits in what is referred to as the hot tropics. This means that whatever time of the year you visit, count on a tropical climate of hot temperatures, high humidity and sometimes torrential rain.

What accompanies this climate is invariably the presence of some tropical bugs and viruses that you may not be familiar with. I am not saying that you should recoil in horror and select another destination, in fact far from it. What is helpful is the old saying of, forewarned is forearmed.

Firstly I would like to discuss one fundamental issue, and that is about water. In South East Asia, water is abundant, reflecting the fact of their location in the tropics. This water is fine for cooking, (as it is boiled), washing and laundering your clothes. However in most cases is it unwise to drink this water as some gastric bugs may result. Please do not let this put you off, as the solution is really quite straightforward. Bottled water is everywhere in South East Asia and it is also very inexpensive. As an example, a liter of pure drinking water in Cambodia is around 25c US.

The other pre trip basics that I would suggest you tick off before you depart are the vaccinations and preventative medications. Here are the vaccinations I recommend you have before travelling anywhere.

1) Diphtheria/Tetanus. These ailments are devastating and can strike anywhere, even at home. The solution is as easy as a shot, followed by boosters every five years or so.
2) Cholera. See your doctor to get an easy vaccination against this disease.
3) Typhoid. A two shot program will protect you here.
4) Hepatitis A. An initial shot, followed by a follow up one year later will protect you for life.

The other issue that I want to discuss are those mosquito born illnesses. In South East Asia the two ailments that you need to be aware of, are malaria and dengue fever. There are pre emptive medications for these, but just as important, there are easy and sensible strategies that you can adopt whilst in the region.

1) At dawn and dusk, be aware of mosquito activity around you.
2) Use a barrier cream containing the active ingredient DEET.
3) Wear light clothing and avoid still, swampy areas.
4) Carry a mosquito net, and use it for sleeping if other protectants such as spray or screens are not available.

Do not let any of this information deter you from visiting this part of the world. You will love it and hanker to return!

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Article keywords: cambodian accommodation, sihanoukville accommodation, cambodian hotel, travel health

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Nick is an old Asia hand who writes boutique articles for the places he really likes, like this great little guesthouse, the Ochheuteal Guesthouse, near the beach in Sihanoukville Cambodia. Click there now, and prepare to be fascinated and motivated to grab a ticket!

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