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China,
Hong Kong S.A.R. (China),
Japan, Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (North),
Republic of Korea (South),
Macao S.A.R. (China), Mongolia,
Taiwan
The preventive measures you
need to take while traveling
in East Asia depend on the
areas you visit and the length
of time you stay. You should
observe the precautions listed
in this document in most areas
of this region. However, in
highly developed areas of
Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea,
and Taiwan, you should observe
health precautions similar
to those that would apply
while traveling in the United
States.
Travelers’ diarrhea, the number
one illness in travelers,
can be caused by viruses,
bacteria, or parasites, which
can contaminate food or water.
Infections may cause diarrhea
and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella,
cholera, and parasites), fever
(typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis),
or liver damage (hepatitis).
Make sure your food and drinking
water are safe.
Malaria is a preventable infection
that can be fatal if left
untreated. Prevent infection
by taking prescription antimalarial
drugs and protecting yourself
against mosquito bites. Travelers
to some areas in China, Hong
Kong S.A.R. (China), North
Korea, and South Korea may
be at risk for malaria.
Dengue, filariasis, Japanese
encephalitis, leishmaniasis,
and plague are diseases carried
by insects that also occur
in this region. Protecting
yourself against insect bites
will help to prevent these
diseases.
If you visit the Himalayan
Mountains, ascend gradually
to allow time for your body
to adjust to the high altitude,
which can cause insomnia,
headaches, nausea, and altitude
sickness. In addition, use
sunblock rated at least SPF
15, because the risk of sunburn
is greater at high altitudes.
There is no risk for yellow
fever in East Asia. A certificate
of yellow fever vaccination
may be required for entry
into certain of these countries
if you are coming from countries
in South America or sub-Saharan
Africa.
CDC recommends the following
vaccines (as appropriate for
age):
See your doctor at least 4–6
weeks before your trip to
allow time for shots to take
effect.
- Hepatitis
A or immune globulin (IG),
except travelers to Japan.
- Hepatitis
B, if you might be exposed
to blood (for example,
health-care workers),
have sexual contact with
the local population,
stay longer than 6 months,
or be exposed through
medical treatment.
- Japanese
encephalitis, only if
you plan to visit rural
areas for 4 weeks or more,
except under special circumstances,
such as a known outbreak
of Japanese encephalitis.
- Rabies,
if you might be exposed
to wild or domestic animals
through your work or recreation.
- Typhoid,
particularly if you are
visiting developing countries
in this region.
- As
needed, booster doses
for tetanus-diphtheria
and measles, and a one-time
dose of polio for adults.
Hepatitis B vaccine is
now recommended for all
infants and for children
ages 11–12 years who did
not receive the series
as infants.
All travelers should take
the following precautions,
no matter the destination:
- Wash
hands often with soap
and water.
- Because
motor vehicle crashes
are a leading cause of
injury among travelers,
walk and drive defensively.
Avoid travel at night
if possible and always
use seat belts.
- Always
use latex condoms to reduce
the risk of HIV and other
sexually transmitted diseases.
- Don’t
eat or drink dairy products
unless you know they have
been pasteurized.
- Don’t
share needles with anyone.
- Eat
only thoroughly cooked
food or fruits and vegetables
you have peeled yourself.
Remember: boil it, cook
it, peel it, or forget
it. Never eat undercooked
ground beef and poultry,
raw eggs, and unpasteurized
dairy products. Raw shellfish
is particularly dangerous
to persons who have liver
disease or compromised
immune systems.
Travelers visiting undeveloped
areas should take the following
precautions:
To stay healthy, do...
- Drink
only bottled or boiled
water, or carbonated (bubbly)
drinks in cans or bottles.
Avoid tap water, fountain
drinks, and ice cubes.
If this is not possible,
make water safer by BOTH
filtering through an “absolute
1-micron or less” filter
AND adding iodine tablets
to the filtered water.
“Absolute 1-micron filters”
are found in camping/outdoor
supply stores.
- If
you visit an area where
there is risk for malaria,
take your malaria prevention
medication before, during,
and after travel, as directed.
(See your doctor for a
prescription.)
- Protect
yourself from insects
by remaining in well-screened
areas, using repellents
(applied sparingly at
4-hour intervals), and
wearing long-sleeved shirts
and long pants from dusk
through dawn.
- To
prevent fungal and parasitic
infections, keep feet
clean and dry, and do
not go barefoot. To avoid
getting sick...
- Don’t
eat food purchased from
street vendors.
- Don’t
drink beverages with ice.
- Don’t
share needles with anyone.
- Don’t
handle animals (especially
monkeys, dogs, and cats),
to avoid bites and serious
diseases (including rabies
and plague).
What you need to bring
with you:
- Long-sleeved
shirt and long pants to
wear while outside whenever
possible, to prevent illnesses
carried by insects.
- Insect
repellent containing DEET
(diethylmethyltoluamide),
in 30%–35% strength for
adults and 6%–10% for
children, as well as a
bed net impregnated with
the insecticide permethrin.
(Bed nets can be purchased
in camping or military
supply stores.)
- Over-the-counter
antidiarrheal medicine
to take if you have diarrhea.
- Iodine
tablets and portable water
filters to purify water
if bottled water is not
available.
- Sunblock,
sunglasses, hat.
- Prescription
medications: make sure
you have enough to last
during your trip, as well
as a copy of the prescription(s).
After you return home:
If you have visited a malaria-risk
area, continue taking your
antimalarial drug for 4 weeks
(Lariam®, doxycycline)
or seven days (Malarone™)
after leaving the risk area.
Travelers who become ill with
a fever or flu-like illness
while traveling in a malaria-risk
area and up to one year after
returning home should seek
prompt medical attention and
should tell the physician
their travel history.
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