BEFORE THE TRIP

  • Avoid traveling when ill;
  • See your physician, preferably 4 to 8 weeks before the trip, and inform your itinerary. Ask for advice on protection against diseases and injuries;
  • During the trip, you may have difficulty finding, or may not find, the medicines you usually take. Ask for your physician’s advice on which medicines, and in what quantity, you should take on the trip, including in your hand luggage;
  • Pack your medicines according to the manufacturer’s instructions, in the original package and with the insert;
  • Eat before traveling. Eat what you are used to, avoiding fats, since they can cause discomfort during the trip;

ON THE PLANE

  • Follow the airline’s rules for transporting objects and liquids;
  • If you feel any change in your health status on the trip, inform the crew;
  • All pregnant women should consult their physician before traveling, because they are subject to various risks, and travel can affect their safety and comfort;
  • Before traveling, ask the company about specific rules for pregnant women.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I BECOME ILL DURING THE FLIGHT?

If you become ill inside the aircraft, report it to the on-board staff, who will take appropriate action and alert the health services of the location you are traveling to. In trips taking more than four hours, prolonged immobility increases the risk of venous thrombosis. Therefore, try to exercise every two or three hours.

ADVICE TO TRAVELERS:

The risk of violence and accidents should always be considered during trips. Anywhere in the world, a traveler may be a victim of assault, theft and sexual violence. Travelers should be cautious when moving around at the destination. Factors such as driving in an unknown location, left-hand driving, excessive tiredness and alcohol intake contribute to the occurrence of traffic accidents, a major cause of hospitalization and death among travelers. Engaging in unfamiliar water activities (swimming, diving, boating) is very common during travel, especially among younger people, and drowning is the second most common cause of death among travelers.

IMPORTANT WEBSITES:

Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The city of Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Olympic Games from August 5 to 21, and the Paralympic Games, from September 7 to 18. If you intend to travel to Brazil for the Games, follow the traveler recommendations to spend a safe and healthy time.

Along with many destinations in the Americas, Brazil is going through a Zika virus outbreak. There are special recommendations for pregnant women traveling to the country.

PREGNANT WOMEN

It is important to note that, in any situation, pregnant women need to consult their physician before traveling and that special care is required when traveling.

They should only use repellents allowed during pregnancy (based on DEET, icaridin or picaridin and IR 3535 ou EBAAP), wear long-sleeved clothing and stay in places with protective screens and avoid areas of higher incidence of Zika virus and malaria.

They should avoid places with mosquitoes without the recommended protective measures, and locations where there are more insects.

Cases of Zika virus transmission between partners during sex have been reported, so always use a condom.

If there is any change in your health status, report it to the health professionals for monitoring of the pregnancy. It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids.

VACCINES

While in Brazil there is no requirement to present a vaccination certificate to enter the country, the Ministry of Health recommends that tourists update their vaccination card according to the guidelines of the vaccination schedule of their country of origin or residence, at least 10 days before the trip.


Yellow fever

If you plan to do any kind of eco-tourism in rural areas or forests (Areas with Vaccination Recommendation – ACRV), the yellow fever vaccine is highly recommended. A single-dose vaccine should be applied at least 10 days prior to the travel date.

Important Information

Brazil requires the International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis (ICVP) temporarily and restricted to travelers coming from or going to Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The decision follows a recommendation issued by the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO), due to the ongoing Urban Yellow Fever outbreak in these two African countries.

So travelers, delegations and athletes coming or in transit to Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo must have CIVP with vaccination date at least 10 days prior to travel.

The Ministry of Health recommends that when traveling to Brazil tourists update their vaccination card for the following diseases:

• INFLUENZA (Flu): Brazil adopts the vaccination of risk groups in the period from April 18 to May 20, 2016, before the period of highest incidence of the disease.

• MEASLES: In Brazil the measles virus is no longer endemic. However, the population is vaccinated to prevent the virus returning to the country, considering that it still affects other parts of the world.

• RUBELLA: Brazil is officially free of Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) and has not reported cases of endemic transmission. The vaccine is still essential to avoid recurrence of the disease.


• HEPATITIS A: Brazil recommends prior vaccination because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water, irrespective of the country you are traveling in.

• HEPATITIS B: You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles and blood products. Brazil recommends vaccination if you are getting a tattoo or piercing, or if you are pregnant.

MALÁRIA

In Brazil, malaria transmission is concentrated in the Amazon region, comprising the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. (INCLUDE MAP) In these areas, malaria mosquitoes are most active from late afternoon to dawn.

How to prevent it?

1 – Wear light-colored clothes and long sleeves during high exposure activities.

2 – Apply insect repellent on exposed skin, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

3 – Pay attention to the appearance of malaria symptoms, such as fever, body ache and headache.

4 – If you have any of these symptoms, immediately seek the nearest health service.

Beware! Malaria can kill.

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