Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health has warned against the presence of mosquitoes carrying dangerous diseases in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.
Visitors to the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games will be especially at risk of gastrointestinal infections and infections transmitted by mosquitoes, according to the Ministry of Health. For this reason, it is recommended to maintain good general hygiene to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal infections and protect against mosquito bites by applying repellents and wearing long-sleeved tops and long trousers in areas where infections transmitted by mosquitoes are common.
The Olympics will take place during the winter season in Rio de Janeiro, during which the weather is drier and colder, and the mosquito populations are lower. This significantly reduces the risk of infections such as Zika, dengue fever and chikungunya. The risk of infection, however, remains high in the city of Manaus (Amazon), where six football matches will take place.
Because of the current Zika virus epidemic, pregnant women and women planning pregnancy soon are recommended to avoid non-essential travel to Brazil.
Before travelling to Brazil, they recommend that travellers do the following:
1. Make sure that you have the basic vaccinations (tetanus, diphtheria, polio, whooping cough). If necessary, renew these.
2. Verify that you are vaccinated against Hepatitis A. Get vaccinated if necessary, as there is a much larger risk of infections of Hepatitis A in Brazil as opposed to in the EU.
3. Get vaccinated against yellow fever, if you are going to be travelling in a risk area (this is if one plans to attend the football matches in Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and Manaus). You must be vaccinated at least 10 days before entering a risk zone. The Travel Clinic of the National Service of Infectious Diseases is the only one authorised to administer this vaccine (it is necessary to make an appointment at tel. 4411-3091).
4. Avoid all contact with dogs or stray cats and immediately consult a doctor after an animal bite (of a mammal) to receive a post-exposure prophylaxis against rabies as soon as possible. Rabies still exists in Brazil. Preventive vaccination can be offered to those who plan to stay for more than a month or who travel frequently in rural areas.
5. Make sure you are aware of the risk of malaria depending on the exact destination, and consider taking tablets against malaria, if indicated. Malaria persists in some areas outside the city of Rio de Janeiro.
According to special health risks, it is crucial to consider other vaccinations. People with immune disorders or serious chronic diseases should consult their doctor or a travel medicine service (Travel Clinic) before traveling.
During your stay in Brazil, the following recommendations apply:
1. Comply with the standard hygiene precautions to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal infections: wash hands regularly, drink water only from sealed bottles, ensuring that meat and fish are cooked and cooked separately, wash fruit and vegetables with clean water before consumption, etc.
2. Check local hygienic conditions before consuming local products: fresh juices, coconut water, cocktails etc.
3. Avoid engaging in unsafe sex. Practice safe sex using a condom to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
4. Protect yourself against mosquito bites, especially during the day when the Aedes type mosquito (which carry the Zika virus, dengue, chikungunya fever) are the most active.
You can avoid this by following the steps mentioned above (repellents, wearing clothing that covers your skin) as well as sleep/rest under mosquito nets or in protected places of mosquitoes or in the presence of air conditioning.
After your trip to Brazil it is recommended to:
1. Pregnant women who have resided in Brazil must inform their gynecologist at the next consultation.
2. The partners of pregnant women in Brazil - even without symptoms of infection - should use condoms during sex until the end of pregnancy, in order to avoid any risk of transmission of the Zika virus.
3. Every man returning from Brazil - even without symptoms of infection - should use condoms during sexual intercourse for at least a month to prevent possible transmission of the Zika virus.
Returning travelers from Brazil with symptoms of an infection should consult their doctor promptly, informing them that they made a trip to Brazil.
For more information, contact your doctor or the Travel Clinic of the National Service of Infectious Diseases (tel. 4411-3091).
Photo by the Olympic Games
