Slovenia Health Overview
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Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations are recommended. In forested areas hikers should guard against tick bites, as tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease are a risk. Mains water is safe to drink, milk is pasteurised and local meat and produce safe to consume. Free emergency treatment is available from hospitals and private doctors contracted. Slovenia has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing emergency health care on the same terms as Slovenian nationals. EU travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
View information on diseases: Typhoid fever, Tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme disease, Hepatitis A
Typhoid fever
Cause: Salmonella typhi, the typhoid bacillus, which infects only humans. Similar paratyphoid and enteric fevers are caused by other species of Salmonella, which infect domestic animals as well as humans. Transmission: Infection with typhoid fever is transmitted by consumption of contaminated food or water. Occasionally direct faecal-oral transmission may occur. Shellfish taken from sewage-polluted beds are an important source of infection. Infection occurs through eating fruit and vegetables fertilized by night soil and eaten raw, and milk and milk products that have been contaminated by those in contact with them. Flies may transfer infection to foods, resulting in contamination that may be sufficient to cause human infection. Pollution of water sources may produce epidemics of typhoid fever, when large numbers of people use the same source of drinking water. Nature of the disease: Typhoid fever is a systemic disease of varying severity. Severe cases are characterized by gradual onset of fever, headache, malaise, anorexia and insomnia. Constipation is more common than diarrhoea in adults and older children. Without treatment, the disease progresses with sustained fever, bradycardia, hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal symptoms and, in some cases, pneumonia. In white-skinned patients, pink spots (papules), which fade on pressure, appear on the skin of the trunk in up to 50% of cases. In the third week, untreated cases develop additional gastrointestinal and other complications, which may prove fatal. Around 2-5% of those who contract typhoid fever become chronic carriers, as bacteria persist in the biliary tract after symptoms have resolved. Geographical distribution: Worldwide. The disease occurs most commonly in association with poor standards of hygiene in food preparation and handling and where sanitary disposal of sewage is lacking. Risk for travellers: Generally low risk for travellers, except in parts of north and west Africa, in south Asia and in Peru. Elsewhere, travellers are usually at risk only when exposed to low standards of hygiene with respect to food handling, control of drinking water quality, and sewage disposal. Prophylaxis (protective treatment): Vaccination. Precautions: Observe all precautions against exposure to foodborne and waterborne infections. Source: WHO.
Back to TopTick-borne encephalitis
Cause: The tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus, which is a flavivirus. Other closely related viruses cause similar diseases. Transmission: Infection is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. There is no direct person-to-person transmission. Some related viruses, also tick-borne, infect animals such as birds, deer (louping-ill), rodents and sheep. Nature of the disease: Infection with tick-borne encephalitis may induce an influenza-like illness, with a second phase of fever occurring in 10% of cases. Encephalitis develops during the second phase and may result in paralysis, permanent sequelae or death. Severity of illness increases with age. Geographical distribution: Tick-borne encephalitis is present in large parts of Europe, particularly Austria, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Russian Federation. The disease is seasonal, occurring mainly during the summer months in rural and forest areas at altitudes up to 1,000 metres. Risk for travellers: In endemic areas during the summer months, travellers are at risk when hiking or camping in rural or forest areas. Prophylaxis (protective treatment): A vaccine against TBE is available. Precautions: Avoid bites by ticks by wearing long trousers and closed footwear when hiking or camping in endemic areas. If a bite occurs, the tick should be removed as soon as possible. Source: WHO.
Back to TopLyme disease
Cause: The spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, of which there are several different serotypes. Transmission: Infection with Lyme disease occurs through the bite of infected ticks, both adults and nymphs, of the genus Ixodes. Most human infections result from bites by nymphs. Many species of mammals can be infected, and deer act as an important reservoir. Nature of the disease: The disease usually has its onset in summer. Early skin lesions have an expanding ring form, often with a central clear zone. Fever, chills, myalgia and headache are common. Meningeal involvement may follow. Central nervous system and other complications may occur weeks or months after the onset of illness. Arthritis may develop up to 2 years after onset. Geographical distribution: There are endemic foci of Lyme borreliosis in forested areas of Asia, north-western, central and eastern Europe, and the USA. Risk for travellers: Generally low. Visitors to rural areas in endemic regions, particularly campers and hikers, are at risk. Prophylaxis (protective treatment): A vaccine available in the USA provides protection against the specific serotype endemic in the USA. Precautions: Avoid tick-infested areas and exposure to ticks. If a bite occurs, remove the tick as soon as possible. Source: WHO.
Back to TopHepatitis A
Cause: Hepatitis A virus, a member of the picornavirus family. Transmission: The virus is acquired directly from infected persons by the faecal-oral route or by close contact, or by consumption of contaminated food or drinking water. There is no insect vector or animal reservoir (although some non-human primates are sometimes infected). Nature of the disease: An acute viral hepatitis with abrupt onset of fever, malaise, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed by the development of jaundice a few days later. Infection in very young children is usually mild or asymptomatic (e.g. causes no symptoms); older children are at risk of symptomatic disease. The disease is more severe in adults, with illness lasting several weeks and recovery taking several months; case-fatality is greater than 2% for those over 40 years of age and 4% for those over 60. Geographical distribution: Worldwide, but most common where sanitary conditions are poor and the safety of drinking water is not well controlled. Risk for travellers: Non-immune travellers to developing countries are at significant risk of infection. The risk is particularly high for travellers exposed to poor conditions of hygiene, sanitation and drinking water control. Prophylaxis (protective treatment): Vaccination. Precautions: Travellers who are non-immune to hepatitis A (i.e. have never had the disease and have not been vaccinated) should take particular care to avoid potentially contaminated food and water. Source: WHO.
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