HELP! Jap Enceph & Rabies for Kerala?!

Katy Mac · Jul 28th, 2009, 23:28

Hi,

I'm sorry if this is a repetition but I'm so confused by all the websites and threads.

Going to Kerala from 8-25th October and myself and my boyfriend don't know whether to get Rabies or Japanese Encephilitis jabs - they come to about £300 as you need to have 3 doses of each!! We will be going to some rural areas in that time.

Please can you advise if these jabs are necessary?

(On another note, we've been told we don't need to take anti-malarials if we are staying in Kerala - Is this correct?)

Would really appreciate your opinions!
Many thanks
Katy

Haylo · Jul 28th, 2009, 23:59

You really do need to take medical advice on this.

However, I looked into this before my first trip and these are my personal conclusions, based on my plan of taking multiple trips over the course of one or two years:

Japanese Encephalitis: Rare, mosquito transmitted, re

ccomended for people staying more than four weeks or spending a lot of time in rural areas. - I decided against this, as I'd be taking every precaution against being bitten by mosquitoes. This is because there is no vaccination against the mosquito borne and very nasty Dengue Fever which is common in Delhi, and mosquito bites make me miserable anyway.

Malaria: I was advised that it wasn't necessary for the areas I was visiting, but I chose to purchase tablets anyway. They made me very ill and queasy, so I threw them away. If you don't get bitten by mosquitoes, you won't get malaria, and I was prepared to stay covered up and be careful about using DEET. Your situation may differ.

Rabies: Having the three pre-exposure injections can buy you time if you get bitten, and it reduces the amount of post exposure injections you need. You do still need to start the post-exposure injections soon after being bitten, though. I decided that as I'd never be more than twelve hours from medical help, I didn't need to pay for the rabies jabs in the UK. I did think about getting them (far far cheaper) in India, but never got round to it.

Katy Mac · Jul 29th, 2009, 00:10

Thanks Haylo.

Apart from spraying yourself with DEET - is that 50% what other precautions do you need to take against getting bitten? I have to say I am pretty prone to getting bitten, mosquitos seem to love me! Do you need to cover up during the day or is just at dusk, dawn, night time?

What does everyone else think about JE and Rabies in Kerala in particular? A lot of people say its more developed so there is less risk but we will be traveling into the backwaters and hills / tropical parts etc?

Addski · Jul 29th, 2009, 00:10

Hi Katy,

Check out 1st Contact travel clinic for Rabies. They are on new oxford street. I got all three for £52.50!

website http://http://www.1stcontact.com/liv...Category_ID=67

Katy Mac · Jul 29th, 2009, 00:15

Thanks - they look so much cheaper than elsewhere!!! That's awesome thank you. Although JE still is about £150 for 3 doses

Addski · Jul 29th, 2009, 00:17

Yeah, I didn't bother with JE. I think the negatives (side effects, rarety etc..) outweighed the positives.

Haylo · Jul 29th, 2009, 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katy Mac

Apart from spraying yourself with DEET - is that 50%

Yes, 50% if I was going to be out for a while, 10% if I was just popping out for an hour or so. The stronger ones aren't more effective, they just last longer.

We were fortunate enough to have good hotels with either screens or closed windows and AC, and at home there aren't any cracks in the windows. When travelling, we plugged in one of our liquid mosquito killers every night, although some hotels provided them anyway.

Quote:

What other precautions do you need to take against getting bitten?

I just covered up, partly because it helped me cope with the heat, but to be honest, I'm surprised I wasn't bitten more. In five trips, each ranging from five days to a month, I've been bitten only three times. The Dengue Fever mossie bites during the day, by the way, so it's not just dawn and dusk.

Quote:

I have to say I am pretty prone to getting bitten, mosquitos seem to love me!

Me too, anyone else with me is perfectly safe, I'm a gourmet treat for the little blighters!

Katy Mac · Jul 30th, 2009, 00:36

Addski - Do you know why that travel clinic is so much cheaper than every other? It seems a bit suspicious! Also did you go to Kerala? How long for? (Just asking in terms of the JE vaccine)
thanks

Katy Mac · Jul 30th, 2009, 00:37

Thanks Haylo that's very helpful!

Jul 28th, 2009, 23:28	#1
Katy Mac Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 18	HELP! Jap Enceph & Rabies for Kerala?! Hi, I'm sorry if this is a repetition but I'm so confused by all the websites and threads. Going to Kerala from 8-25th October and myself and my boyfriend don't know whether to get Rabies or Japanese Encephilitis jabs - they come to about £300 as you need to have 3 doses of each!! We will be going to some rural areas in that time. Please can you advise if these jabs are necessary? (On another note, we've been told we don't need to take anti-malarials if we are staying in Kerala - Is this correct?) Would really appreciate your opinions! Many thanks Katy

Jul 28th, 2009, 23:59	#2
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,807	You really do need to take medical advice on this. However, I looked into this before my first trip and these are my personal conclusions, based on my plan of taking multiple trips over the course of one or two years: Japanese Encephalitis: Rare, mosquito transmitted, reccomended for people staying more than four weeks or spending a lot of time in rural areas. - I decided against this, as I'd be taking every precaution against being bitten by mosquitoes. This is because there is no vaccination against the mosquito borne and very nasty Dengue Fever which is common in Delhi, and mosquito bites make me miserable anyway. Malaria: I was advised that it wasn't necessary for the areas I was visiting, but I chose to purchase tablets anyway. They made me very ill and queasy, so I threw them away. If you don't get bitten by mosquitoes, you won't get malaria, and I was prepared to stay covered up and be careful about using DEET. Your situation may differ. Rabies: Having the three pre-exposure injections can buy you time if you get bitten, and it reduces the amount of post exposure injections you need. You do still need to start the post-exposure injections soon after being bitten, though. I decided that as I'd never be more than twelve hours from medical help, I didn't need to pay for the rabies jabs in the UK. I did think about getting them (far far cheaper) in India, but never got round to it. __________________ The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

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Jul 29th, 2009, 00:10	#3
Katy Mac Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 18	Thanks Haylo. Apart from spraying yourself with DEET - is that 50% what other precautions do you need to take against getting bitten? I have to say I am pretty prone to getting bitten, mosquitos seem to love me! Do you need to cover up during the day or is just at dusk, dawn, night time? What does everyone else think about JE and Rabies in Kerala in particular? A lot of people say its more developed so there is less risk but we will be traveling into the backwaters and hills / tropical parts etc?

Jul 29th, 2009, 00:10	#4
Addski Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: London Posts: 15	Hi Katy, Check out 1st Contact travel clinic for Rabies. They are on new oxford street. I got all three for £52.50! website http://http://www.1stcontact.com/liv...Category_ID=67

Jul 29th, 2009, 00:15	#5
Katy Mac Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 18	Thanks - they look so much cheaper than elsewhere!!! That's awesome thank you. Although JE still is about £150 for 3 doses

Jul 29th, 2009, 00:17	#6
Addski Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: London Posts: 15	Yeah, I didn't bother with JE. I think the negatives (side effects, rarety etc..) outweighed the positives.

Jul 30th, 2009, 00:36	#8
Katy Mac Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 18	Addski - Do you know why that travel clinic is so much cheaper than every other? It seems a bit suspicious! Also did you go to Kerala? How long for? (Just asking in terms of the JE vaccine) thanks

Jul 30th, 2009, 00:37	#9
Katy Mac Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 18	Thanks Haylo that's very helpful!