Travel Tips to Beijing Olympics 2008

Malaria
Spread by mosquitoes. Mostly found in rural areas and not in cities and not in Olympic venues.
Symptoms: Fever, chills, shivering, headache, body ache and tiredness.
Preventive measures: Avoid mosquito infected areas and wear full sleeved clothes and full pants to prevent mosquito bites.

Typhoid
Caused by flies and contaminated food.
Symptoms: Very high fever (103 degrees-104 degrees), headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, rash.
Prevention: Get typhoid vaccine (one dose) or pills (four doses).
Eat well cooked, piping hot food.
Drink only bottled and sealed beverages like carbonated drinks or water.

Japanese Encephalitis
Spread by mosquitoes.
Chances of getting it in cities are very low but in rural, farming areas the chances are high.
Symptoms: Fever, headaches, weakness, behavior changes.
Remedial measures: Get vaccine (3 shots) if you are going to be in China for more than one month that too in rural areas and planning to spend more time outside. Prevent mosquito bites, sleep under a mosquito net. Use a mosquito repellant containing DEET. Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Use an insecticide treated bed net if you are sleeping outside or in a room without a window screen.

Hepatitis A
It is a liver disease, infected by contaminated food and water.
Symptoms: fever, upset stomach and pain, yellowing of the skin, eyes, and urine.
Preventive measures:Get Hepatitis vaccine-3 shots
Eat fully cooked and piping hot food
Drink only bottled and sealed drinks like water and carbonated drinks
(If you have time only to get one shot before leaving for China- it is all right, that will protect you from the disease while in China. Take your second shot after return for lasting protection.

Hepatitis B
A liver disease contacted through blood and body fluids from an infected person.
Symptoms: fever, yellowing of skin and eyes, tiredness, loss of appetite, stomach pain and upset stomach
Treatment: Get hepatitis B vaccine (3 shots)
Avoid sex without condom
Do not share needles
Do not get tattoos done

Influenza (Flu)
Usually it is a common disease.
Symptoms: Fever, cough, and body ache.
There is no vaccine for bird flu but there is vaccine for seasonal flu

Schistosomiasis
Disease caused by parasite from swimming or wading in contaminated fresh water like rivers, ponds and lakes.
Symptoms: fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, headache, joint and muscle pain,
Some who get affected by Schistosomiasis do not get any symptoms but the infection causes health problems later in life. These problems can affect liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs or bladder.
Preventive measures: Do not swim in non-chlorinated swimming pool.
Do not swim or participate in any activities in fresh water.
Even if you do not get sick, on return, get checked to find out if you are infected.
If you have an infection, take medicines to get treated.

Traveler's diarrhea
Most common ailment for travelers. China is high-risk area for Travelers Diarrhea.
Symptoms: Loose stools, stomach cramps, when acute nausea, gas, vomiting and fever.
Prevention: Eat only well cooked and served hot food.
Drink only bottled and sealed beverages like water, carbonated drink or sports drink.
Wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand gel to wipe hands before eating or cooking.
Treatment: Talk to your doctor before taking antibiotic medicine for TD.
Take two tablets or one ounce of liquid bismuth every 30 minutes for 8 doses.
Take an anti diarrhea medicine like loperamide.
Use rehydration therapy to replace loss of fluids.

Breathing problem
Cause: Air pollution besides asthma and related breathing disorders.
Symptoms: Troubled breathing, wheezing and coughing.
China has reported that it is taking steps to reduce air pollution during Olympics by closing factories and limiting the number of cars on roads.
Prevention and remedies: If you have Asthma or any other lung problem, consult a doctor before going to China.
You may need extra medication to control the ailment.
If you have cough or wheezing or breathing problem while in China consult a doctor immediately.
Plan outing in the daytime and in low traffic areas.

Rabies
It is a deadly disease. Once the symptoms occur, there is no cure. It is spread by the bite of an infected animal.
Preventive measures: Do not touch pets or play with them. They may not have been vaccinated. If you get an animal bite or scratch, consult a doctor immediately.
Take Rabies vaccine (3 shots)- if you have to spend a lot of time outside in rural areas in China.