Bug in Japan

The Rugby World Cup is on the horizon.

And come time for packing we’ll all remember our spare rugby jersey.

But how much importance do we put on our first aid box.? Or medical precautions?

Thankfully our friends at Tropical Medical Bureau do http://www.tmb.ie.

Mosquitoes

They’re pesky insects who are as welcome as a guest who comes for the weekend and stays a week.

But the Asian ones are even worse.

A sting from one of these fellas is seriously bad for your health.

So here’s how to avoid Japanese encephalitis.

The Japanese mosquito favours breeding sites in and around swampy regions and rice paddies.

For most of us we’ll only get mild symptoms.

But a third will develop neurological problems and around a third will die.

Insect repellents are the way so wear white clothes… mossies are attracted to a darker kit.

Some diseases sound scary… others less so.

But don’t be fooled… Rubella is.

The risk of Rubella (and other respiratory diseases) is significantly higher in Japan.

So having cover against Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) is highly recommended.

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus.

Most of us who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash.

It starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

The best protection against rubella is MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.

Your travel health needs will depend on your individual situation.

Factor in how long you’ll stay, what you’ll be doing andyour general health.

Ideally consult with your travel healthcare practitioner 6-8 weeks in advance of travel.

But if you haven’t it’s still worth asking advice from your GP.

We want to make sure that the only headaches will be saki-induced.

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