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Peru Vacations Essentials - Vaccinations

By Gary Sargent

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Published: 03Feb2011
Word count: 507
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If you're thinking about Peru vacations, you definitely need to get informed about vaccinations.

Nothing is mandatory to be able to enter the country, but you should receive certain injections to reduce your risks. Check out the advice below to make sure you're prepared.

The following advice is general. You should check a government website such as the United States Center for Disease Control. They will give a good overview of local developments and requirements regarding inoculations and outbreaks of disease.

Once you've got all the information you need, pay a visit to your doctor or travel clinic to find out which vaccinations you require, or those that need updating. You should visit 4 to 6 weeks in advance to allow time for any required vaccinations or medications to take effect.

Below is a summary of all vaccinations required for Peru vacations.

-Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travelersTyphoid: Recommended for all travelers.
-Hepatitis B: Recommended for all travelers.
-Yellow fever: Needed for areas east of the Andes mountains.
Note: Yellow fever is not required for Lima, Cuzco or Machu Picchu.

-Rabies: For travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with bats or at high risk from animal bites.
-Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR): Two doses recommended for all travelers born after 1956, if not previously given.
-Tetanus-diphtheria: Re-vaccination required every 10 years.

Malaria
Despite a lot of medical research, there is still no vaccine against malaria. Whilst uncommon, if you are visiting the following regions in the north and jungle areas of Peru, you need to take precautions: Loreto, Madre de Dios, Ucayali, San Martin, Junin, Tumbes and Piura.

If you are visiting the following parts of Peru, you do not need to take precautions against malaria: Lima and its vicinity, the coastal areas south of Lima, the highland tourist areas (Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca), and the departments of Arequipa, Moquegua, Puno, and Tacna.

Dengue fever
Mosquitoes can also transmit dengue fever. As with malaria, no vaccine is available. According to health authorities, you should take precautions if you visit the departments of Loreto, Ucayali, Cajamarca, and Piura.

What can you do about Malaria and Dengue Fever?
The best form of treatment is prevention of mosquito bites. Tourists on Peru vacations in affected areas should wear long sleeved shirts and pants. Also recommended is an insect repellant spray that contains 30 - 50% DEET. When sleeping, mosquito nets should be used in the jungle. Nets are available with additional DEET treatment.

It is also recommended that you take a course of anti-malarial medication to reduce the effects of malaria if you should contract it. Speak to your doctor about the best course of treatment, as there are several different options available and not all of them work with all patients and global malaria zones.

Do you know any other good references for Peru vaccinations online? What other precautions do you take before Peru vacations?

Gary Sargent is the Managing Director of the Escaped To Latin America Group. Gary has lived in Latin America since 1998 and is an expert in all things Latino - this is why his clients keep saying his tours are amazing. If you'd like to get a FREE quote for your dream Latin American vacation, send him a request for a chat (and qualify for a 5% discount).

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