Football fans from all over the world are headed to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup in May. However, public health authorities say there are risks other than what can happen on the field.
CDC advises travelers visiting Brazil to consult their travel medicine experts or doctors four to six weeks before they travel. Public health officials recommend preventive medicine or vaccinations for infectious diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Travelers are also advised to review the things they should do to avoid infections including dengue fever.
Dr. Joanna Gaines of the Geographic Medicine branch, CDC said that traveling always entail safety and health risks. She and her colleagues caution people who will go to Brazil to experience the World Cup or the Olympics in 2016 that they may be at an increased risk because of the number of people from different countries flocking at the same place.
"There's no vaccine or medication to prevent [mosquito-borne diseases]," Gaines said. "So we really advise travelers to regularly use insect repellent, wear long-sleeve clothing, wear clothing that's been treated with insect repellent, and do those types of active things they can do to protect their health."
The next Olympics will happen in Rio de Janeiro on August 5 to 21, 2016. Gaines and the team write that big events such as these have previously been associated with illness outbreaks. An example of this would be the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia when six various flu strains caused an outbreak. Another one is the meningococcal outbreaks after the 1997 soccer competition in Belgium and the 2000 Saudi Arabia Hajj pilgrimage.
While travelers are encouraged to see their doctors before leaving, the doctors are required to alert their patients about the hazards of traveling ranging from sexually transmitted diseases, bed bugs and even traffic accidents. A lot of roads in Brazil are not yet paved and travelers must be cautioned to be vigilant and careful when driving. Travelers should make sure they find a vehicle that has the safety features they want and seat belts are minimum requirement.
The CDC also provides a guide on how to avoid food-borne diseases. The steps include eating only steaming-hot food, drinking bottled water and frequently washing hands. Basic health measures protect people from any infectious diseases. Travelers are also urged to seek immediate care if a fever develops while or after they are in Brazil.
