Vaccine Information

Cholera is a bacterial infection of the small intestine that is often spread through contaminated water or food. Cholera results in vomiting and diarrhea, which leaves the patient at risk of electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. If not treated promptly, cholera can be fatal and causes up to 95,000 deaths a year.

Diphtheria is a rare but very serious respiratory infection that can damage the heart and other organs, as well as destroy human body tissue. It is spread by an infected person sneezing or coughing droplets with the disease on you. One out of every ten persons infected with diphtheria dies from the disease.

The hepatitis A virus causes inflammation of the liver. It is contracted through the fecal-oral route by ingesting contaminated water and food or by close contact with an infected person. There are epidemics of hep A from time to time and recovery can take weeks or months.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It is contracted through bodily fluids. The symptoms of hep B include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea and jaundice. Hepatitis B lasts for about six months, but it can turn into a long-lasting infection and may result in progressive liver disease, cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne virus that can result in permanent neurological damage. Most cases are mild, but less than 1% of cases result in encephalitis (brain swelling), and between 20% and 30% of those patients will die. The World Health Organization says that a literature review shows 68,000 clinical cases every year.

Malaria is contracted by a bite from an infected mosquito. The symptoms of malaria are flu-like and include fever, headache and muscle pains. Some cases can be very serious or fatal. According to the World Health Organization, there were 212 million cases of malaria and 429,000 malaria-related deaths in 2015.

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious and debilitating viral infection that is spread through contaminated food and water. The disease occurs in the gastrointestinal tract and can spread to the nervous system, where it can result in lifelong paralysis. Although there is no cure for polio, it is vaccine preventable.

Death is the usual outcome of a rabies infection if it is not treated promptly. The rabies virus is contracted from bites or scratches from an infected animal (wild or domestic). Dog bites are the most common infection route, but bats are considered a risk worldwide, as well as cats and monkeys in some areas.

Between one third and one half of cases of infection by the tetanus bacteria result in death. Tetanus-causing bacteria is found worldwide in soil and in animal guts and contaminates many surfaces. It usually enters the body through a wound. Neurotoxins released by the bacteria cause muscle spasms that can eventually result in breathing difficulties and death.

Typhoid is caused by Salmonella bacteria growing in the intestines and in the blood. Typhoid is very infectious and is often spread through contaminated water or food. Typhoid symptoms include abdominal pain, confusion, headache and fever, constipation or diarrhea. In more severe cases, there may be enlargement of the liver and spleen or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal.

Yellow fever is contracted from a bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. It is a serious, sometimes fatal, viral illness. Symptoms include fever, jaundice, muscle pain and nausea. Yellow fever can have a fatality rate as high as 60%. You may have difficulty entering certain territories if you cannot produce proof of immunity to yellow fever.

Meningococcal meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane of the brain and spinal cord that can progress to systemic infection. It is very serious and may be fatal. Meningococcal meningitis symptoms include: sudden fever, intense headache, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, a stiff neck and blood spots under the skin. Seek medical attention if these occur.