The following vaccinations and health recommendations are taken from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. www.CDC.gov .
Required Vaccinations:
Health Risks:
The preventive measures you need to take while traveling in Western Europe depend on the areas you visit and the length of time you stay. For most areas of this region, you should observe health precautions similar to those that would apply while traveling in the United States.
In 2004-2005 there has been a marked increase in reported cases of mumps in the United Kingdom. Tickborne encephalitis, a viral infection of the central nervous system, occurs in Austria, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark (only on the island of Bornholm); a few cases have also been reported from Italy, Norway, and France. Travelers are at risk who visit or work in forested areas during the summer months and who consume unpasteurized dairy products. The vaccine for this disease is not available in the United States at this time. To prevent tickborne encephalitis, as well as Lyme disease, travelers should take precautions to prevent tick bites.
Leishmaniasis (cutaneous and visceral) is found in countries bordering the Mediterranean, with the highest number of cases from Spain, where it is an important opportunistic infection in HIV-infected persons.
Legionnaries disease, caused by the Legionella bacterium, is sporadic; some outbreaks have involved tourists at resort hotels.
Yellow Fever:
There is
no risk for yellow fever in Western Europe. A certificate of
yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into the Azores, Madeira, and Malta if you are coming from countries in South America or sub-Saharan Africa where yellow fever is endemic. For detailed information, see
Comprehensive Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements.
Food and Waterborne Diseases:
Make sure your food and drinking water are safe.
Food and Waterbornee diseases are the primary cause of illness in travelers. Travelers’ diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout Western Europe and can contaminate food or water.
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob (in animals bovine spongiform encephalopathy/mad-cow disease) cases have been reported primarily from the United Kingdom, though a small number of cases have been reported from other countries. Large outbreaks of trichinosis have occurred; outbreaks in France have been linked to horsemeat.
What you need to bring with you:
- Insect repellent containing DEET during the summer.
- Sun Block, sunglasses, hat during summer months.
- Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s) or letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you.
- Always carry medications in their original containers, in your carry-on luggage.
- Be sure to bring along over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication (e.g., bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide) and an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor to self-treat moderate to severe diarrhea. See suggested over-the-counter medications and first aid items for a travel kit.
- New security measures were implemented on August 10, 2006, regarding what passengers may carry onto the airplane. Up-to-date information may be obtained at the Transportation Security Administration’s Guidance For Airline Passengers Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions.
To stay healthy on your trip, make sure to:
- Protect yourself from tick bites if visiting forested areas during the summer :
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats when outdoors.
- Use insect repellents that contain DEET (N, N-diethylmethyltoluamide).
Do not:
- Do not eat food that is not well cooked to reduce risk of infection.
- Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.
- Do not share needles for tattoos, body piercing or injections to prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B.
- Avoid poultry farms, bird markets, and other places where live poultry is raised or kept.
More detailed information on this region is available at www cdc.gov
