Belarus Health Overview
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The main health risks associated with visiting Belarus are tick-borne encephalitis (for those who intend foot-slogging through the forests), measles (outbreaks occur) and diphtheria, so travellers should ensure they are vaccinated against these diseases. There have also been recent cases of human rabies infection in the rural areas, identified as originating with bites from foxes, raccoon, dogs and cats. Visitors should not drink unpurified tap water, unpasteurised milk or consume undercooked food. Medical care is limited and essential medications are frequently not available. Medical facilities lack modern equipment. The best equipped are private clinics, which are available in Minsk. Doctors and hospitals expect payment in cash. Travel health insurance with air evacuation cover is highly recommended.
View information on diseases: Rabies, Diphtheria
Rabies
Cause: The rabies virus, a rhabdovirus of the genus Lyssavirus. Transmission: Rabies is a zoonotic disease affecting a wide range of domestic and wild animals, including bats. Infection of humans usually occurs through the bite of an infected animal. The virus is present in the saliva. Any other contact involving penetration of the skin occurring in an area where rabies is present should be treated with caution. In developing countries transmission is usually from dogs. Person-to-person transmission has not been documented. Nature of the disease: An acute viral encephalomyelitis, which is almost invariably fatal. The initial signs include a sense of apprehension, headache, fever, malaise and sensory changes around the site of the animal bite. Excitability, hallucinations and aerophobia are common, followed in some cases by fear of water (hydrophobia) due to spasms of the swallowing muscles, progressing to delirium, convulsions and death a few days after onset. A less common form, paralytic rabies, is characterized by loss of sensation, weakness, pain and paralysis. Geographical distribution: Rabies is present in animals in many countries worldwide. Most cases of human infection occur in developing countries. Risk for travellers: In rabies-endemic areas, travellers may be at risk if there is contact with both wild and domestic animals, including dogs and cats. Prophylaxis (protective treatment): Vaccination for travellers with a foreseeable significant risk of exposure to rabies or travelling to a hyperendemic area where modern rabies vaccine may not be available. Precautions: Avoid contact with wild animals and stray domestic animals, particularly dogs and cats, in rabies-endemic areas. If bitten by an animal that is potentially infected with rabies, or after other suspect contact, immediately clean the wound thoroughly with disinfectant or with soap or detergent and water. Medical assistance should be sought immediately. The vaccination status of the animal involved should not be a criterion for withholding post-exposure treatment, unless the vaccination has been thoroughly documented and vaccine of known potency has been used. In the case of domestic animals, the suspect animal should be kept under observation for a period of 10 days. Rabies post-exposure treatment: In a rabies-endemic area, the circumstances of an animal bite, other contact with the animal, and the animal's behaviour and appearance may suggest that it is rabid. In such situations, medical advice should be obtained immediately. Post-exposure treatment to prevent the establishment of rabies infection involves first-aid treatment of the wound followed by administration of rabies vaccine and antirabies immunoglobulin in the case of a bite or exchange of saliva. The administration of vaccine, and immunoglobulin if required, must be carried out, or directly supervised, by a physician. Source: WHO.
Back to TopDiphtheria
Disease: Diphtheria is a bacterial disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The infection commonly affects the throat and may lead to obstruction of the airways, and death. Transmission is from person to person, through close physical contact, and is increased in overcrowded and poor socioeconomic conditions. Exotoxin-induced damage occurs to organs such as the heart. Nasal diphtheria may be mild, and chronic carriage of the organism frequently occurs; asymptomatic infections are common. A cutaneous form of diphtheria is common in tropical countries and may be important in transmission of the infection. Occurrence: Diphtheria is found worldwide, although it is not common in industrialized countries because of long-standing routine use of DTP vaccine. Recently, large epidemics have occurred in several east European countries. Risk for travellers: Potentially life-threatening illness and severe, lifelong complications are possible in incompletely immunized individuals. Vaccine: All travellers should be up to date with the vaccine, which is usually given as "triple vaccine"-DTP (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis). After the initial course of three doses, additional doses may be given as DT until 7 years of age, after which a vaccine with reduced diphtheria content (Td) is given. Since both tetanus toxoid and diphtheria toxoid can reasonably be given on a booster basis about every 10 years, there is little reason to use monovalent diphtheria vaccine. Precautions and contraindications: Avoid diphtheria-containing vaccines if a severe or life-threatening reaction has occurred to a previous dose. Use a vaccine with reduced diphtheria content (Td) from age 7 years onwards. Source: WHO.
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