The Summer Olympics are a few days away to be held in one of the most beautiful cities in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The one unfortunate part about Brazil is that its crime rate and health record are as famous as their tourist attractions. Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful city filled with beaches, amazing restaurants, world class hotels and beautiful views of the city from Sugarloaf Mountains. Brazil will be the first country in South America to ever host the Summer Olympics and second country in the southern hemisphere after Australia. Providing efficient safety protocols in the city has been a challenge for the Brazilian government due to the emergence of the Zika virus but the government has assured travelers, players and attendees that all is under control. Brazil is merely 1 out of 60 countries battling the spread and transmission of the virus.
Zika might not be the only health concern in Rio; whilst traveling to many disease ridden countries, it’s natural to take precautions beforehand and follow public health travel advice. These are all precautionary and in no way assure travelers 100 percent safety, all you have to do is follow the rules, get checked before traveling, make sure you have all the necessary information regarding health issues, be sure to have all your required medications if you are suffering from any conditions and enjoy the trip you’re embarking on soon enough.
To prepare yourself for the Olympics in Rio, check with your local physician for any vaccines needed, recommended immunizations and boosters prior to your departure by two months at least. If you haven’t been vaccinated at a young age, some single dose vaccines require several weeks to build immunity, multiple dose immunizations as well and even boosters for precautionary reasons. Boosters are very important for measles (recently reemerged), Hepatitis A and B, tetanus-diphtheria, mumps and other diseases that are still a cause of concern but with a booster shot, check with your local doctor to get vaccines for tropical diseases known to the area.
It’s winter time in Rio, temperatures hover between 25-30 degrees, not bad for winter, and the crowds will be out and just about everywhere with a screen to watch the games, not to mention those filling up the arenas where games will be held. With all that contact and people from all walks of life, try to wash your hands as much as possible and wear a protective mask when crowds seem too much to bear.
There is an amazing range of restaurants in Rio to keep you satisfied for days at end, it seems like everywhere you go, some heavenly smell wafts about. Don’t fear food stalls though, you’d be surprised with the amount of amazing assortments sold at street vendors; churros when you need a sugary boost, Acai Berry with a frozen yogurt concoction to cool down after a hot day and Acaraje with shrimp for some protein. With that in mind, the best way to avoid gastrointestinal upsets while in Rio de Janeiro is understanding where and how problems occur. Food and water-borne illnesses can be contracted from murky swimming pools, drinking water from local tap water, etc. Avoid ice, ice cream from ill-reputable shops, salads (fresh greens and fruits need to be thoroughly washed) and fruits/vegetables that can’t be peeled, raw fish and shell-fish. Whatever the reason for poisoning and suffering from diarrhea or vomiting spells, always keep hydrated and use bottled water, rehydration drinks work well also. Monitor your vitals, fever and if it continues for more than 48 hours, contact your accommodation provider and have yourself checked. The different forms of food poisoning are E-Coli, Norovirus, Salmonella, and Bacillus Cereus.
- Avoid open buffets.
- Drink from bottled water only.
- Avoid food that has been reheated.
- Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and ice creams/gelato/frozen yogurt stands that don’t provide proper cooling systems.
- Dine in well-known restaurants (use one of the many great apps to know what, where and how high are the ratings).
Concerns over the spread of Zika virus are high, recent findings suggest that it can be spread through intercourse between partners and according to the WHO, pregnant women are advised not to travel to areas where there are high rates of infected women. Partners traveling to and from Brazil should practice safer sex or abstain throughout the pregnancy. With that in mind the American CDC (Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention) alongside the WHO/PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization) are monitoring and providing sufficient information for all public health government offices in charge with combating and controlling the spread of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito in areas where the Games are to be held as well as crowd controlled areas.
For those traveling and concerned about contracting the Zika virus, following simple steps can increase your chances of not getting infected. Spray insect repellent day and night, insect repellents work very well and make sure that the active ingredients are included — DEET, PMD, picaridin and OLE. Wear light-colored clothing that covers up most of your body and try to stay in well air-conditioned areas with locked windows and window nets. Lastly, avoid visiting rural areas where proper piped water is lacking, and are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, resulting in a high risk of getting bitten.
The Zika virus transmission rate is expected to be low during the Olympic games, for August and September and winter months in Brazil, which decrease the mosquitos’ activity due to cooler and drier weather. Mosquitoes thrive in water remnants from rain, storm drains, air-conditions, old tires … etc. It’s always recommended to stay in well-known establishments throughout your stay in Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro. It’s a beautiful city full of many things to enjoy, but it would be even better to enjoy while making sure you’re safe. Don your country’s flag shirt, paint your faces with its colors, be proud of your team and enjoy the Rio Summer Olympics 2016.
Zika might not be the only health concern in Rio; whilst traveling to many disease ridden countries, it’s natural to take precautions beforehand and follow public health travel advice. These are all precautionary and in no way assure travelers 100 percent safety, all you have to do is follow the rules, get checked before traveling, make sure you have all the necessary information regarding health issues, be sure to have all your required medications if you are suffering from any conditions and enjoy the trip you’re embarking on soon enough.
To prepare yourself for the Olympics in Rio, check with your local physician for any vaccines needed, recommended immunizations and boosters prior to your departure by two months at least. If you haven’t been vaccinated at a young age, some single dose vaccines require several weeks to build immunity, multiple dose immunizations as well and even boosters for precautionary reasons. Boosters are very important for measles (recently reemerged), Hepatitis A and B, tetanus-diphtheria, mumps and other diseases that are still a cause of concern but with a booster shot, check with your local doctor to get vaccines for tropical diseases known to the area.
It’s winter time in Rio, temperatures hover between 25-30 degrees, not bad for winter, and the crowds will be out and just about everywhere with a screen to watch the games, not to mention those filling up the arenas where games will be held. With all that contact and people from all walks of life, try to wash your hands as much as possible and wear a protective mask when crowds seem too much to bear.
There is an amazing range of restaurants in Rio to keep you satisfied for days at end, it seems like everywhere you go, some heavenly smell wafts about. Don’t fear food stalls though, you’d be surprised with the amount of amazing assortments sold at street vendors; churros when you need a sugary boost, Acai Berry with a frozen yogurt concoction to cool down after a hot day and Acaraje with shrimp for some protein. With that in mind, the best way to avoid gastrointestinal upsets while in Rio de Janeiro is understanding where and how problems occur. Food and water-borne illnesses can be contracted from murky swimming pools, drinking water from local tap water, etc. Avoid ice, ice cream from ill-reputable shops, salads (fresh greens and fruits need to be thoroughly washed) and fruits/vegetables that can’t be peeled, raw fish and shell-fish. Whatever the reason for poisoning and suffering from diarrhea or vomiting spells, always keep hydrated and use bottled water, rehydration drinks work well also. Monitor your vitals, fever and if it continues for more than 48 hours, contact your accommodation provider and have yourself checked. The different forms of food poisoning are E-Coli, Norovirus, Salmonella, and Bacillus Cereus.
- Avoid open buffets.
- Drink from bottled water only.
- Avoid food that has been reheated.
- Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and ice creams/gelato/frozen yogurt stands that don’t provide proper cooling systems.
- Dine in well-known restaurants (use one of the many great apps to know what, where and how high are the ratings).
Concerns over the spread of Zika virus are high, recent findings suggest that it can be spread through intercourse between partners and according to the WHO, pregnant women are advised not to travel to areas where there are high rates of infected women. Partners traveling to and from Brazil should practice safer sex or abstain throughout the pregnancy. With that in mind the American CDC (Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention) alongside the WHO/PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization) are monitoring and providing sufficient information for all public health government offices in charge with combating and controlling the spread of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito in areas where the Games are to be held as well as crowd controlled areas.
For those traveling and concerned about contracting the Zika virus, following simple steps can increase your chances of not getting infected. Spray insect repellent day and night, insect repellents work very well and make sure that the active ingredients are included — DEET, PMD, picaridin and OLE. Wear light-colored clothing that covers up most of your body and try to stay in well air-conditioned areas with locked windows and window nets. Lastly, avoid visiting rural areas where proper piped water is lacking, and are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, resulting in a high risk of getting bitten.
The Zika virus transmission rate is expected to be low during the Olympic games, for August and September and winter months in Brazil, which decrease the mosquitos’ activity due to cooler and drier weather. Mosquitoes thrive in water remnants from rain, storm drains, air-conditions, old tires … etc. It’s always recommended to stay in well-known establishments throughout your stay in Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro. It’s a beautiful city full of many things to enjoy, but it would be even better to enjoy while making sure you’re safe. Don your country’s flag shirt, paint your faces with its colors, be proud of your team and enjoy the Rio Summer Olympics 2016.
