Vaccinations and safety recommandations

Compulsory vaccination

There are no required vaccines to enter in Thailand. However, some vaccines are recommended for adults:
Diphtheria (3 months before travelling)
Hepatitis A (2 weeks before travelling)
Polio (IPV) (up-to-date)
Typhoid (days before travelling)
Tetanus (up-to-date)

Yellow fever

There is no risk of yellow fever in Thailand. Need vaccination only in the case applicants have travelled from or through certains countries which have been declared yellow fever infected areas.
It’s definitely useless if you come from Europe, North America, central and south America, Asia or Oceania. [1]
Malaria
Generally, Malaria is not a problem in the main touristic areas like Kanchanaburi and his province. However, it would be safer to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites applying insect repellent and closing the windows.
Treatments to prevent malaria are not effective and useless [2].

H.I.V

1.5% adult H.I.V prevalence
The use of new syringes is systematic in thai hospitals.
Almost anywhere in Thailand you will find a store that is open 24/7 where condoms [3] are sold. Like everywhere in the world, condoms are definitely recommended during casual encounters.

Dengue

Peak transmission occurs during rainy season, from May to September, wet weather affecting mosquito activity.
Dengue symptoms are high fever, severe headaches and severe joint and muscle pain.
Dengue is endemic in Thailand. Dengue is spread by Aedes mosquito that typically attacks during day time. Precautions against mosquitoes are highly recommended (long sleeves and long pants, insect repellent applying to skin and also clothes, electric repellent)

Japanese encephalitis

This disease, only in Asia, is spread through mosquito bites, especially in rural areas.
In some cases, it can be a cause of death and can cause important neurological sequelaes.
Risk is present throughout the country, above all in the North and Northeast of the country. Kanchanaburi province is not subject to this disease. The vaccination is recommended only during long time stay in rural areas. Planning holidays with Safarine, physical actions (repellent and appropriate clothes) are the best defence.

There are not only mosquitoes

Rickettsiosis

A rickettsiosis is caused by intracellular bacteria (species of rickettsia), can be a cause of death, spread by tick, flea, louse and mites It can provoke an infectious syndrome with cutaneous manifestations. The treatment of this disease is an adequate antibiotic therapy. Prevention of this disease still should focus on repellents and wearing heavy clothing
Skin examination after being in potentially infested (jungle, the bush)areas is recommended.

Rabies

Rabies virus is a lethal human virus if it’s not treated in time. The treatment to prevent the rabies virus is really efficient: getting a rabies vaccination as soon as possible after an animal bite is the best way to prevent the infection. Rabies is spread when an infected animal scratches or bites human or human. Saliva from an infected animals can also transmit rabies if the saliva comes into contact with the nose, eyes, mouth or scratched skin.
The time period between contracting the disease and the start of symptoms is usually around 15days. If the animal is still alive and doesn’t show symptoms after a time of 15days after exposure, rabies can’t be transmitted by this animal.

Stray dogs

Stray dogs

The Thais call them lane dogs (ซอย ซอย). In Bangkok, their number is estimated at 300,000. Most are in a pitiful state, dirty, more or less crippled and / or mangy.

Thai people call them commonly “street dogs” or “soi dogs” (หมาซอย) and they are ownerless, free-ranging dogs. In Bangkok, they are around 300000. Most of them are in very bad state, dirty, more or less crippled and/or scabby. To reduce the risk of contamination with rabies, it’s recommended to avoid contact with pets, bats and wild mammals. The greatest vigilance is particularly essential for kids.
In the view of Safarine , if bite, scratch or licking from an animal happen (cat, dog, monkey or other mammals), it has to be declared to Safarine and It would be considered as a medical emergency. In this case, Safarine would invite you to immediately go to a medical center.

Diarrhea (traveler’s diarrhea)

Traveler’s diarrhea is a clinical syndrome than can result from a variety of intestinal pathogens than care occur from food or beverages.
Although providers of Safarine are carefully selected and particularly about hygiene and food safety, Safarine advice you to drink only bottles of water, to not eat raw food from street food and also from restaurant. The contamination is often because of the personal hygiene of restaurant staff and also because of the use of running water in the washing process.

Range of antibacterial hand gels

It is strongly recommended to wash your hands before meals. Provide sanitizing products, gel or wipes, when sinks are not accessible.
The consumption of probiotic drinks such as Betagen has a reputation for preventing or helping to cure tourists.

The advices from an expat doctor in Thailand

About vaccination
As a doctor [4] I advise you at least to have your immunizations up-to-date for DT-Polio [5] + measles + Hepatitis A vaccination. It’s the minimum on which there is consensus. There are also other recommended vaccinations but it’s necessary to visit the doctor for that, not a post on Facebook. You can find also other personalized recommendations on the website http://www.medecinedesvoyages.net but I advise you a consultation with travel medicine or, at least, consult your general practitioner to check if your immunizations are up-to-date.
For information, in particular circumstances, these vaccinations are also recommended: Hepatitis B, Typhoid Fever, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis.
To improve your vaccination follow up, I advise you to create an electronic immunization record on the website http://www.mes vaccins.net. It’s free, managed by an independent association of pharmaceutical companies that you can share with your doctor.