# Brazil Travel Medical Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697 "2007-11-08T19:54:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/1 "2007-11-08T19:54:16Z")
I have received a last minute offer of a week’s work in Brazil (Rio). I know Hep A, Hep B, and Typhoid are recommended vaccinations to get, but there is no point in getting Hep A or B as the vaccine takes too long to kick in. (I would be leaving tomorrow or Saturday). I need to make a bunch of last minute arrangements, otherwise I would try to find out more myself, but are there any recommended shots for Rio I can get last minute that will help to protect me? I have booked an early morning appointment for the local travel clinic, but will cancel if there is no value in going. Help me Teeming Millions, you’re my only hope! ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/2 "2007-11-08T20:38:59Z")
I’ve gone numerous times and never gotten any vaccinations for when I went nor has my wife. Are you going to be in Rio? Are you going to be working in the favelas? Are you going to be travelling in the country? Stick to mineral water or spring water and don’t drink the tap water. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/3 "2007-11-08T20:51:29Z")
[QUOTE=Caffeine.addict] I’ve gone numerous times and never gotten any vaccinations for when I went nor has my wife. Are you going to be in Rio? Are you going to be working in the favelas? Are you going to be travelling in the country? Stick to mineral water or spring water and don’t drink the tap water. [/QUOTE] As far as I know I’ll be working strictly in the favelas, but under very controlled circumstances (film set). Rio. Thanks for the reply, certainly makes me feel a lot better. I’ll avoid tap water and wipe the bottle before drinking the beer. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/4 "2007-11-08T22:18:40Z")
Yellow fever is the biggest thereat, although in the states I visited, I was not required or reccomended to get the vaccine. I was scheduled to go to Rio, but didn’t end up going. I’m not sure what state it’s in, though. Depending on the local, you may be able to drink the water. Just ask, the people there will know. Cruise around the embassy site listed below, it may have some good tips for you. Try starting here: [http://www.braziltourism.org/funtips1.html](http://www.braziltourism.org/funtips1.html) From here: [http://www.braziltourism.org/visas.html](http://www.braziltourism.org/visas.html) > [@](#): > > Vaccination > YELLOW FEVER INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION CERTIFICATE > A yellow fever vaccination is mandatory if applicant traveled within the last 90 days to any of the following Countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zaire) or Venezuela. > > A yellow fever vaccination is advisable if applicant’s destination in Brazil includes any of the following States: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins and the Federal District. > [http://www.anvisa.gov.br/eng/pab/travelers/index.htm#](http://www.anvisa.gov.br/eng/pab/travelers/index.htm#) > POLIO IMMUNIZATION > A Certificate of vaccination against polio is required for children between ages of three months and six years. If the child cannot be inoculated, a notarized letter from the child’s physician will be required. ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/5 "2007-11-08T22:24:42Z")
If I remember correctly from when I was there, Rio is farther south than is neccesary for the Yello Fever shot. (when I went, I forgot my immunization record at my host family in the south. When we got to the north, they made us all get another shot for yello fever if we couldn’t prove we’d had one… that made two in 6 mos. I always wonder if that’s what made me sick) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/6 "2007-11-09T00:02:28Z")
Here is what the CDC [recommends](http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationBrazil.aspx). > [@](#): > > \*\*Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Check the links below to see which vaccinations adults and children should get. > > Routine vaccines\*\*, as they are often called, such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) are given at all stages of life; see the childhood and adolescent immunization schedule and routine adult immunization schedule. > > Routine vaccines are recommended even if you do not travel. Although childhood diseases, such as measles, rarely occur in the United States, they are still common in many parts of the world. A traveler who is not vaccinated would be at risk for infection. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/7 "2007-11-09T00:07:53Z")
Rio de Janeiro is in the state of Rio de Janeiro so it isn’t on the list. The water in Rio certainly doesn’t taste very good. When my folks lived there, they drank strictly bottled water. I assume that you won’t be staying in the favelas if you are on a film shoot since security tends to be a problem in the city in general, and especially in the favelas. Wiping the beer bottle is a good idea, although I never did. I always preferred to use the little glass that they give you when you get a beer. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/8 "2007-11-09T00:10:23Z")
[QUOTE=Caffeine.addict] \I always preferred to use the little glass that they give you when you get a beer. [/QUOTE] That’s pretty much mandatory, unless you want to look like an over-consuming American pig. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/9 "2007-11-09T00:27:07Z")
I might get the initial Hep A anyway, then finish the series when you get home. Couldn’t hurt. Also, lots of people remember to drink bottled water, but then use the tap water to brush their teeth out of sheer habit. My mom got sick that way in the Middle East back in the 1970’s, when bottled water wasn’t as common. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/10 "2007-11-09T03:01:45Z")
Post something about it when you get back! I go to Rio de Janeiro regularly (spent August there) because I have family there, but I have never seen a favela up close and personal. Given appropriate precautions to ensure surviving the visit intact, I’m sure it would be a memorable experience. ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/11 "2007-11-09T13:05:01Z")
I spent a little time in the favelas of Rio. Please remember not to wander off, and to take care to follow what security says. Often, they’re hired from the favela populace (read: gang members) so they keep everyone else in line. Overall, however, you’ll find a warm people who are making the best of what they’ve got. Boa sorte! ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/12 "2007-11-09T15:56:57Z")
From the [CDC recommendations](http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationBrazil.aspx) (same link as above). [Find a travel medicine clinic](http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentTravelClinics.aspx) We used one of these before our trip to Africa. The RN was very well informed. They had the vaccines onsite and we were able to get in in about 3 days. It could have been faster, but we didn’t need it to be. Back on the main CDC Brazil page in addition to routine shots, they recommend Yellow Fever, Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid and Rabies if you are going to be around animals. In addition, antimalaria drugs are suggested. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/13 "2007-11-09T17:22:16Z")
I’d aslso suggest eating only cooked food-no salads or raw veggies. Fruit is fine (peel it yourself). and DO NOT eat street food. The water in rio isn’t bad-its just that it sits in a tank on the roof (water is gravity fed). and-don’t go to the beach without sandals-the sand may look clean, but you don’t want to get a cut from broken glass. If you do get sick, go to a private "clinica’-the doctors in Rio are good. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/14 "2007-11-09T23:14:59Z")
I would like to thank you all for your suggestions and input. Today I went to the local travel clinic and had some shots. I went to fed-ex and picked up my passport, complete with shiny new 90 day Brazilian work visa. I went and filled a prescription for anti- diarrhea medication, as well as picking up some immodium, pepto-bismol, and 30% deet insect repellant. Then the production called me and said that the money to get me there and back just wasn’t there. So, no trip, no stories of glory, no exciting and interesting interlude in the favelas. Bummer. Anyone need some work done in Brazil? I have a visa! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/15 "2007-11-10T01:02:10Z")
What if you paid for the tickets yourself? It might be worth it. My tickets were only $600 from Miami to Sao Paulo. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/16 "2007-11-10T04:39:55Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] I know Hep A, Hep B, and Typhoid are recommended vaccinations to get, but there is no point in getting Hep A or B as the vaccine takes too long to kick in. [/QUOTE] A study published in the 25 Oct 07 New England Journal of Medicine (available free at [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa070546](http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa070546)) found that hepatitis A vaccine is fairly effective even when given AFTER exposure. (They treated people within 2 weeks of exposure with either hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin; few people in either group contracted hepatitis A.) Hepatitis B vaccine is also effective after exposure. See [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5516.pdf](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5516.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-travel-medical-question/425697/17 "2007-11-10T08:52:29Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] What if you paid for the tickets yourself? It might be worth it. My tickets were only $600 from Miami to Sao Paulo. [/QUOTE] A good idea, but it’s a very high budget feature, and I can’t set the precedent of a technician paying his own way to work on such a picture. My name would be mud. > [@Yeah](#): > > \*(love that name!)\*A study published in the 25 Oct 07 New England Journal of Medicine (available free at [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa070546](http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa070546)) found that hepatitis A vaccine is fairly effective even when given AFTER exposure. (They treated people within 2 weeks of exposure with either hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin; few people in either group contracted hepatitis A.) > > Hepatitis B vaccine is also effective after exposure. See [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5516.pdf](http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5516.pdf) The clinic reccomended hep A, so I got it. They also described the situations where I might be exposed to hep B, and I decided it wasn’t a problem for me. Not that anything is a problem, since I’m no longer going. Dammit!