There’s not much that can spoil a holiday more than feeling off-colour, and very little that can dull the pleasure of your holiday memories more than being ill far from home. If you are visiting South Africa, there are a number of health issues you should be aware of, particularly if you’re from the northern hemisphere.
However, while there are risks anywhere you travel, South Africa has a relatively salubrious climate and our levels of hygiene, health care, and water treatment make it a pretty safe destination.
In this article:
- Inoculations
- Medical facilities
- The sun
- Can I drink the water?
- Malaria
- HIV/Aids
- Other health issues
- More information
Inoculations
If you’re an adult, you won’t need any inoculations unless you’re travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in South Africa.
It is recommended that you have the required inoculations four to six weeks before you travel to South Africa. A yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation – after which it remains valid for 10 years.
Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants. Booster doses for tetanus and measles can also be administered.
Medical facilities
Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are world-class, offering specialist services by highly skilled professionals. Doctors are well trained and must be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
You will find that in rural areas the clinics and hospitals deal with primary health needs, and may not offer the range of medical care that the large metropolitan hospitals do. Trained medical caregivers are deployed round the country, so help is never far away.
Provincially run emergency services are supplemented by a privately operated services, which attend to roadside and other emergencies, transporting patients in well- equipped ambulances and emergency vehicles to appropriate hospitals.
Pharmacies are well stocked, and equivalents to most international medicines are available. Pharmacists may not dispense Schedule 3 drugs and up without a prescription, so visitors on chronic medication should carry their own prescription.
It is a good idea to take out comprehensive medical insurance before travelling to South Africa as private medical care can be expensive.
The sun
We have a warm sunny climate and pollution and ozone layer damage has led to extremely high UVA and UVB penetration over South Africa.
Protecting yourself against the harsh sun with sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses is essential – especially between 10am and 4pm, and regardless of whether there is cloud cover or not.
You can still get sunburned even if you have a dark complexion – especially if you are from a cooler climate and have not had much exposure to the sun.
Use the highest possible UV protection It is the UVA rays (that don’t cause burning) that you are trying to block out. Ideally you should aim for an SPF of 30 or more to offer protection.
Can I drink the water?
High-quality tap (faucet) water is available in South Africa’s urban areas, but not all water in rural areas is safe to drink straight from the tap.
In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottled mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places.
Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put you at risk of waterborne diseases – especially downstream of human settlements. The water in mountain streams, however, is usually pure and wonderful.
In the Cape, particularly, the water contains humic acid, which stains it the colour of diluted Coca-Cola – this is absolutely harmless, and the water is wonderful. You may also find this colouring in tap water in some areas. It’s fine – it just looks a bit weird in the bath.
The responsibility to provide clean water rests with local water services authorities, which regularly monitor the quality of drinking water. They are rated by the Department of Water Affairs according to the Blue Drop Certification System.
- Find out about the quality of the water of the area you plan to visit
- See South Africa’s tap water ‘word class’
Do I need to take malaria tablets?
Many of the main tourist areas are malaria-free, so you need not worry at all. However, the Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal do pose a malaria risk in the summer months. (Transmission is seasonal, with peak rates of infection occurring in April and declining by June.)
Many local people and some travellers do not take malaria prophylaxis, but most health professionals recommend you do. Consult your doctor or a specialist travel clinic for the latest advice concerning malaria prophylaxis, as it changes regularly.
Prevention
Whether you take oral prophylaxis or not, avoid being outside at night as far as possible as the anopheles mosquito, which carries malaria, operates almost exclusively after dark. Always use mosquito repellent, wear light-coloured long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed shoes at night, and sleep under a mosquito net in endemic areas.
Also use an insect repellent and electronic vaporising mats or burning insecticide coils are also helpful.
It is advisable to avoid malarial areas if you are pregnant.
HIV/Aids
As in other countries, always take precautions when having sex. South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world.
Other health issues
- Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, spread through the air when a person with untreated TB coughs or sneezes. But prolonged exposure to a person with untreated TB usually is necessary for infection to occur.
- Bilharzia can be a problem in some of the east-flowing rivers, but it is easily detected and treated if it is caught early. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a routine test a month or two after you get home – just to reassure yourself.
- Ticks generally come out in the early spring and may carry tickbite fever, which is easily treated. Take precautions against being bitten.
- You should also be aware of hepatitis, for which you can be inoculated.
More information
For further information, service, alerts and advice, visit Netcare Travel Clinics website
SAinfo reporter and South African Tourism
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