According to state medical epidemiologist Marcia Goldolf, “Washington state is the home of many nongovernmental organizations providing humanitarian aid to Haiti. In addition, many Washingtonians have recently volunteered to go to Haiti to assist. Given the many years that it will take to rebuild the infrastructure and to repair systems caring for people with tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and chronic diseases, and to establish programs for physical rehabilitation and mental health support, it is likely that many Washingtonians will continue making the trip to Haiti to help.”
With this in mind, the state Department of Health has provided recommendations for travelers to Haiti. For personal protection, all travelers should make sure that their vaccinations are up to date for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, pertussis and diphtheria, as well as seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza. Although these diseases are not problems in Washington state, they were significant health problems in Haiti before the earthquake. Travelers also should consider vaccines for hepatitis A and B, and typhoid. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended because rabies is present in Haiti.
Travelers should learn about effective measures to prevent food-borne illness and infection. Make sure you can take care of your own medical needs; take along an adequate supply of prescription and nonprescription medications that you might need. Also, consider taking bed nets and mosquito repellent because malaria and dengue are carried by mosquitoes.
For a complete discussion of strategies to prevent injury and disease when traveling to Haiti, go to wwwnc.cdc.gov and click on “Travelers’ Health.” A summary of response issues for the earthquake in Haiti is available from the World Health Organization at www.who.int/hac/crises/hti/en and from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/healthconcerns_ haiti.asp.
For access to prescriptions and vaccines, start by checking with your own health care provider. One form of typhoid vaccine, an oral tablet, can be prescribed for people who are suitable candidates. Your physician also might prescribe malaria prevention, and test you for tuberculosis before and after the trip.
Several pharmacies in Thurston County offer travel vaccines: Tim’s Pharmacy in Yelm, Albertsons on Trosper Road, Sav-On Pharmacy, and Safeway Pharmacy on Cleveland Avenue in Tumwater; and Fred Meyer pharmacies in Lacey and Tumwater.
Providence St. Peter Hospital’s family practice clinic has a travel clinic that can see young children. The Evergreen State College Health Center offers vaccines to registered students. Group Health Cooperative has travel vaccines for its members. Thurston County Health Department Travel Clinic provides travel consultation and needed vaccines and prescriptions for adults and children older than 14. Find information on the Thurston County Travel Clinic as well as phone numbers for the other services at www.co.thurston.wa.us/health and click on “Travel Clinic” under the “Personal Health” heading. Or call 360-867-2537 to schedule a consultation.
Dr. Diana Yu is the health officer for Thurston and Mason counties. She can be reached at 360-867-2501 or yud@co.thurston.
