Armada Travel Clinic

A Mantoux Test is necessary before BCG vaccination. The Mantoux Test shows whether your body has ever been exposed to TB germs before. You require two appointments for the Mantoux Test – first to administer the test then after 2-3 days to measure the results. The Mantoux Test will determine whether a BCG vaccine is required.

Flu (Influenza) is an infectious disease which spreads very rapidly through coughs and sneezes of people who are already carrying the virus.

The Flu immunisation (Flu Vaccine) gives you good protection from the Flu virus, and lasts for 1 year. Each year, the vaccine is usually available from autumn, and is made from the strain of flu that is expected in the coming winter.

Japanese Encephalitis is a rare but serious viral infection which is spread by infected mosquitoes and occurs in most of the Far East and South East Asia countries. It is usually mild, but in some cases it can cause inflammation (swelling) of the brain (encephalitis), leading to permanent brain damage or death.

The vaccination is given as an injection and requires two doses for full protection, with the second dose given 28 days after the first. The second dose should ideally be completed at least a week before travelling.

The Japanese Encephalitis vaccine is not available on the NHS, and each dose will normally cost £80 per person. It's a good idea to include this when budgeting for your trip.

Cholera is a potentially life-threatening, often water borne disease caused by bacterial infection. The infection causes watery diarrhoea leading to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. It is this dehydration which is potentially fatal. It is highly-infectious, causing a number of epidemics and pandemics.

For adults and children over six years of age, two doses of the vaccine (Dukoal) are needed to protect against Cholera for two years. After this, a booster will be required. The vaccine is taken orally (by mouth), as a small amount of liquid to be swallowed. Children aged two to six years old will need to have three doses of the vaccine. This will protect them for six months, after which time they will need to have a booster. Each dose of the vaccine costs £20.

Rabies is a fatal viral disease of the nervous system which can affect all mammals including humans. The disease is usually spread by saliva from the bite, scratch or lick onto broken skin of an infected animal that is carrying the virus. Clinical signs include paralysis and aggression leading to a death.

All mammals are susceptible to the virus including skunks, jackals, mongooses, foxes and raccoons, dogs, cats, monkeys and bats. Travellers are advised to avoid contact with animals in infected areas.

It is common throughout the world and you should consider it if you are travelling to countries such as Brazil, India or Thailand where street dogs and bats are common. Rabies is pretty much untreatable and once the clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.

Vaccination is recommended for all travellers who will be living or travelling in endemic areas and who maybe exposed to Rabies because of their travel activities i.e. trekking, working or living in rural areas.

A course of three doses of the Rabies vaccine (Rabipur) is required for protection. The second dose is given seven days after the first. The third dose is given 21 or 28 days after the first. Each dose of the Rabies Vaccine costs £55.

Typhoid is an infection that causes diarrhoea and a high temperature, resulting in severe illness for two to three weeks. If left untreated it can develop into a serious condition which may require hospitalisation and can be fatal in severe cases. It is spread through contact with human stools, usually as a result of poor sanitation and personal hygiene.

Typhoid is found throughout the world, but is more likely to occur in areas where there is poor sanitation and hygiene. In particular, risk areas include:

• Africa
  
• Central America
  
• The Indian subcontinent
  
• The Middle East
  
• South America
  
• South and South-East Asia

There are a number of options available for vaccination against this disease which includes single injections, combined vaccinations with Hepatitis A and oral capsules. Our travel specialist can recommend the most suitable option for you based on your specific health requirements, itinerary, past vaccination history and time to travel.

The Typhoid vaccine protects against Typhoid for about three years. The Typhoid vaccine is not suitable for infants younger than two. The cost of the Typhoid Vaccine is £35.